Party wait-&-watch on rebel Shotgun
2 min read
Patna: There are indications the BJP will adopt a wait-and-watch policy vis-a-vis, the party’s Patna Sahib MP Shatrughan Sinha, also popular as Shotgun or Bihari Babu, whose statements have added to the party leadership’s discomfiture.
The latest provocation was Shotgun’s statement before journalists in New Delhi on Thursday that he had offers from other parties. He was reacting after being told that the BJP might deny him a ticket in the 2019 elections.
Earlier, Shatrughan had openly expressed his angst when he had “not been invited” to take part in Bihar Divas functions. He then went to Ranchi to meet RJD chief Lalu Prasad who was admitted to a government hospital there for his health condition.
He later tweeted saying: “Bihari Babu ‘once again’ not invited to his home on ‘Bihar Divas’- for reasons best known to all of us. On Bihar Divas I was at Ranchi to meet & greet d most popular, son of soil, mass leader LaluJi. My best wishes & prayers for a healthy & long life. Get well soon. Jai Bihar!”
Speaking about the party’s strategy on Shotgun, a senior BJP leader told The Telegraph on Friday that the party was in no haste and any decision about his future in the party would be taken at an opportune time. “Just wait and watch,” the senior BJP leader said on condition of anonymity. “The party does keep track of its leader’s activities. Shatrughan is definitely not creating goodwill in the party by issuing controversial statements. A right decision would be taken at the right time.”
The BJP leader, however, dropped a hint saying Shatrughan might be denied a party ticket in 2019. “How do you expect that such a person would find favour during ticket-distribution,” he asked when confronted with rumours that the “Bihari Babu” would be denied tickets.
The Shatrughan camp, however, does not seem worried at the likelihood of Shatrughan being denied a ticket to contest in 2019.
“I will not share much about his future strategy but one thing is clear – that Sinha Saheb is not much worried about what the party leadership thinks about him and will continue to speak his mind,” a close confidant of Shatrughan said in reaction.
He also hinted about Shotgun’s future options, saying that RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav had already indicated that a leader like Shatrughan would be an asset to any political party.
Courtesy: The Telegraph
