Patna, July 30;Actor-turned-politician from the Bharatiya Janata Party Shatrughan Sinha raised the party’s hackles on Tuesday for praising Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s capability for the prime ministerial position.
“There is no need for a doctorate or special degree for the prime ministerial post. Of course, Mr. Kumar is a capable candidate for it, because he is a learned personality, and he has provided able leadership in partnership with the BJP. Bihar is creating a wave of awakening in India and abroad. It has come into focus and Mr. Kumar is the chief architect of this focus. I believe it would be wrong to say that such a person is not capable of becoming PM. Whether he is a PM contender is another question. If his party or whichever alliance he forms backs his candidature, then why won’t he be able to become PM?” Mr. Sinha said.
Earlier, Mr. Sinha rubbed his party on the wrong side by advocating LK Advani’s leadership against the clamour for Narendra Modi.
The BJP leader’s comments on Mr. Kumar however left the saffron party tongue-tied.
The party recently suspended its MLA Amarnath Gami for his anti-party activities.
Refusing to comment on Mr. Sinha’s latest remarks, former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said put the ball in the central leadership’ court.
“I have not seen or heard what Mr. Sinha has said. Only our party leadership at the national level can take cognisance and comment on this matter,” he said.
The Bihar BJP seems to be in a tight spot with voices of dissent growing louder.
On Tuesday, State party president Mangal Pandey removed State spokesperson Ram Kishore Singh from his post and a show-cause notice was served to him.
“The disciplinary action was taken against him for his remarks against Narendra Modi. In the show-cause, he has been asked to explain why he should not be suspended,” State party spokesperson Sanjay Mayur told The Hindu.
