In jibe at Modi, Shatrughan Sinha gives him ‘credit’ for poll debacle
Disgruntled BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha once again lambasted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Bihar poll debacle saying that the “credit” for the BJP’s performance in the state must go to Mr Modi. He added that the PM’s attack on RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav had backfired.
Mr Sinha also said that Bihar voters had understood that the announcement of the economic package by the Prime Minister was a “poll gimmick”. “All the credit for the number of seats won by BJP in Bihar goes to Mr Modi and there should not be any doubt about it,” Mr Sinha said taking a jibe at Mr Modi and the party’s poor performance in the Bihar elections.
“It was because of the ‘aggressive campaigning’ by Mr Modi that BJP got 53 seats,” said Mr Sinha, who has been sulking after being left out from Bihar election campaign. He added, “Probably Mr Modi was kept in the dark about ground realities in Bihar by the party leadership. Outsiders were at the helm of affairs for electioneering, whereas the “Bihari Babu” (referring to himself), whom people of Patna sent to Parliament by a margin of lakhs of votes, was deliberately kept out of the campaign. People (voters) took this also seriously and defeated BJP,” Mr Sinha said.
Later on Sunday evening, he said that he would not speak any further as he has said whatever wanted to say. “I have said what I wanted to say. Now the seniors are speaking and looking into it,” Mr Sinha said.
Over any possible action against him for speaking against the party leadership, he said, “ I was, am, and will remain in the BJP. What is my crime What anti-party activity have I committed Don’t I have seniority, maturity If speaking the truth is treachery, then I am a traitor. If I said that the dal price hike should be controlled, what was wrong I said it for the benefit of the nation, my party and public,” he said.
Mr Sinha who is also an MP from Patna Sahib Lok Sabha constituency said the anti-incumbency factor did not work against Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. “There was no anti-incumbency factor against Nitish Kumar and the day the grand alliance of Nitish Kumar-Lalu Prasad Yadav-Congress was formed, they won half the election,” he said. He claimed that targeting Lalu Prasad Yadav and the “jungle raj” remarks didn’t go well with the people of Bihar.
“This particular comment (“jungle raj”) hurt the sentiments of the anti-BJP people of Bihar,” he said, while pointing out that Yadav staged a phenomenal comeback with “80 per cent success rate” (winning 80 seats out of the 100 contested).
