Welcoming the statement of party veterans including L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi demanding accountability for the Bihar debacle, BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha on Thursday said, “We should not run away from fixing responsibility.”
“Nonetheless, now that the verdict is out and we’re saddened by this humiliating defeat, we should not run away from fixing responsibility,” the actor-turned-politician tweeted.
Nonetheless, now that the verdict is out and we're saddened by this humiliating defeat, we should not run away from fixing responsibility.
— Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) >November 12, 2015Mr. Shatrughan Sinha’s remarks come close on the heels of veteran leaders L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Shanta Kumar and Yashwant Sinha raising a banner of revolt against the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the wake of Bihar debacle, saying the party has been “emasculated” in the last one year and was being “forced to kow-tow to a handful”.
The >veterans had demanded a thorough review of the debacle.
On November 10, 2015, Mr. Shatrughan Sinha had tweeted: “Right and high time to follow the friend, philosopher, guru, Guiding Light & his team of 4. Relay race has begun. Gang of 4—Bang on target”.
Right and high time to follow the friend, philosopher, guru, Guiding Light & his team of 4. Relay race has begun. Gang of 4-Bang on target.
— Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) >November 11, 2015Mr. Shatrughan Sinha also said that he had never suggested that Bihar Assembly poll results could have been different had he been declared the Chief Ministerial candidate.
He, however, said that things could have been better if he had campaigned in the elections.
“Media tried to create an impression that I had suggested that results cud’ve been different if I was CM candidate,” he tweeted.
Denying that he has claimed Chief Ministership, Mr. Sinha said, “I have never said this. had no such expectations (of being made CM candidate). Have only said — if I was called for campaigning, things could have been better.”
I had no such expectations (of being made CM candidate). Have ONLY said - if I was called for campaigning, things could have been better.
— Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) >November 12, 2015In another post, he said, “A more enthusiastic participation of my friends, fans, voters and supporters wud’ve certainly helped to make a difference at a few seats.”
“I am not a Rajya Sabha MP. I’ve come through the support of masses and won 2 Lok Sabha elections with record margin. I have a support base!
“Despite sincerity, efforts & intention BihariBabu was kept away from campaigning for my people. My friends, voters&supporters were let down,” Sinha said.
Meanwhile, Begusarai BJP MP Bhola Singh said Bihar poll outcome has proved that the Modi magic is “not durable“.
Mr. Singh, who had termed as “undignified” the speech of the Prime Minister during Bihar campaign, said, “The situation emerging during Parliamentary elections had helped ‘Modi magic’ create an impression among voters... but its nowhere seen now when the situation has become normal... Bihar poll outcome has proved that Modi magic is not durable.”
In a veiled attack at party chief Amit Shah, Mr. Singh said “drunk with power” the top party leadership was always seen “surrounded by sycophants.”
He agreed with Mr. Shatrughan Sinha’s comment that “ Taali kaptan ko to gaali bhi kaptan ko (if kudos to captain over victory the blame should also go to the captain).”
“Leadership should be one in which everybody has astha (faith) which is lacking at present,” he said
BJP lost all seven Assembly seats falling under Begusarai Lok Sabha constituency.
Published - November 12, 2015 03:36 pm IST
