Bharatiya Janata Party's senior leadership on Wednesday said they suspect expelled former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharti is behind the video CD controversy that forced party General Secretary Sanjay Joshi to step down.

"That the release of the CD allegedly showing Sanjay Joshi with a woman was timed to coincide with the party's national executive convention makes the leadership suspect Uma Bharti could be behind it," a senior BJP leader said, requesting anonymity.

Officially, though, the BJP leaders refused comment on the issue. Asked if he suspected that Uma Bharti was behind the controversy, party vice president Venkaiah Naidu said, "We will have to wait for a formal investigation before concluding anything about the allegation."

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh spokesperson Ram Madhav also declined comment.