Shatrughan Sinha speaks up in the aftermath of the BJP’s failure in Bihar
Subhash K Jha (DNA; November 16, 2015)
Shatrughan Sinha has been in the news for the wrong reasons. Ever since his party’s (the Bhartiya Janata Party) defeat in the recent Bihar elections, he has been criticising them and drawing fire for precisely that reason. Here, he talks about why he didn’t campaign for his party this year, the ji-hazuri culture in his party presently and his colleague calling him a dog. Read on as Shotgun Sinha fires at his dosts-turned-dushmans...
Your party’s defeat in Bihar has raised the question as to why you did not campaign in Bihar before elections?
I want to ask them this myself. I am an MP from Patna with a record margin of victory in the Lok Sabha elections. I am known as ‘Bihari Babu’. Yet I was not asked to campaign. I nonetheless swallowed my self-respect and on my own initiative, gave my party dates on October 6, 7 and 8 and again on the 24th, 25th and the 26th. My party’s high command accepted my offer and even expressed happiness at my offer.
What happened next?
Nothing! They didn’t get back to me with any of the logistics, how I’d travel, where I’d go, stay, etc. All my dates went to waste. They didn’t put my face or name in any of the election campaigns hoarding posters.
Leaving you out in Bihar was absurd...
I could see things were not going well. When Nitish Babu (Kumar) and Laluji (Yadav) joined hands, I knew there was trouble ahead for our party. But these people refused to see the writing on the wall. They were like, Hum toh doobe hain sanam, tumhe bhi le doobenge (I am drowning and I’ll make sure you drown, too.)
A BJP colleague called you a dog...
Do I stoop to their level? I tweeted saying, ‘Haathi chale Bihar, dot-dot-dot bhaunke hazaar.’ These are people I helped get votes during the Lok Sabha elections.
Maybe they feel the Prime Minister would be pleased if they abuse you?
Yes, this is the culture of sycophancy. The jee-huzoori culture. After such a humiliating defeat, they’re wasting time calling me names.
Your mentor LK Advani has also spoken up against BJP high command?
About time they paid attention to the voice of reason. I don’t want to say anything negative during Diwali when we should all be thinking spiritual thoughts.
You’ve met Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar after the election results. Does it mean you are joining them?
I will say till my last breath that I am a soldier of the BJP. I met them in a healthy spirit of appreciation and sportsmanship.
Since when has politics become healthy in our country?
I believe in it. Honesty and transparency are my guiding principles in politics. As an MP from Patna, it was only proper protocol that I meet my colleagues who have won. Such positive politicking was practiced by my idols like Jaiprakash Narain, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, LK Advani. I believe my political opponents are not my enemies.
That’s way too idealistic?
Maybe I am being unrealistic. But I don’t see Nitish Babu or Laluji as my enemies. They are part of the same family. Even Narendra Modiji has congratulated them. If I embraced them and congratulated them, why is that being seen as a sign of my crossing over?
Asking again, is there a chance of you joining hands with Nitish Kumar?
Look, every action has an equal reaction. So far, the BJP is my first and last party. I am not going anywhere, unless they take action against me.