New Delhi, March 23 (IANS) Veteran BJP leader Jaswant Singh warned Sunday that the party will pay a price due to internal convulsions that has deprived him of a Lok Sabha ticket.
Denied permission to contest from Barmer in Rajasthan, a peeved Jaswant Singh told IANS that there will be "repercussions" due to the differences that have come to the fore in the party.
"The leadership of the party needs to reflect deeply on the reasons why this situation has arisen," the Lok Sabha member from Darjeeling said over telephone from Rajasthan.
"There are differences in the party which have come to the surface. So there are bound to be repercussions. The party will have to bear this effect," added the former external affairs minister.
Jaswant Singh, who Saturday urged activists to differentiate between the "real BJP" and "fake BJP", Sunday told IANS: "BJP members should introspect how the party has failed in its responsibilities.
"Party leaders have forgotten their responsibilities, ideals and obligations towards the people and to the party," he said, without taking any names.
The denial of ticket to Jaswant Singh, who for years has been one of the better known leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, has fuelled widespread anger in Barmer.
Party activists have attacked and torn banners of BJP and its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. Jaswant Singh supporters have also riled against Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundara Raje who they say is mainly to blame for what has happened.
Jaswant Singh told IANS: "The intellectual territory of the BJP has been encroached by new entrants. (These) elements don't belong to the BJP."
He added: "The people (of Barmer) are angry and they know that the BJP has embraced a leader who until recently was abusing the party."
Jaswant Singh's reference was to Col. Sonaram, who recently joined the BJP after quitting the Congress and has been declared the candidate from Barmer.
Jaswant Singh represented Darjeeling in West Bengal in the outgoing Lok Sabha. The BJP has this time fielded S.S. Ahluwalia, also formerly of the Congress, from there.
Asked by IANS, Jaswant Singh refused to say whether or not he will contest the election and, if yes, in which capacity.
"I shall be going to my village tomorrow and will talk to the people there and will act accordingly," he said.
Boisterous supporters received him warmly as he left Jodhpur Sunday by road for his village Jasol in Barmer district. He was garlanded by slogan-shouting BJP activists. He addressed them at many places.
BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, who heads the opposition in the Lok Sabha, has protested the denial of ticket to Jaswant Singh.
Jaswant Singh has not been the only headache amid the election campaign for the BJP.
Until he was re-nominated from Gandhinagar in Gujarat, it was widely speculated that BJP patriarch L.K. Advani might opt to contest from Bhopal in view of alleged differences with Modi.
Udhayanidhi Stalin: Udayanidhi is surrounded all-round by stating Sanatan Dharma, Tamit actor became a minister after winning Filmfare, known his whole career
There has been an uproar over the objectionable remarks made by DMK leader and Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin regarding Sanatana Dharma. BJP is the biggest attacker on Udhayanidhi's statement
Petrol Diesel Price: Oil companies released the prices of petrol and diesel, know how much the prices were today
Even today, there has been no increase in the prices of petrol and diesel by the oil companies. In Delhi, a liter of petrol is getting Rs 105.41 per liter while diesel is getting Rs 96.67 per liter.
Lightning kills eight in Uttar Pradesh
Lucknow, Feb 27 (IANS) Eight people were killed in Uttar Pradesh as lightning struck them, officials said Friday.Heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning lashed many parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh
Photos show Rahul Gandhi in Uttarakhand
New Delhi, Feb 25 (IANS) A Congress worker Wednesday released pictures of party vice-president Rahul Gandhi in Uttarakhand, but the Congress refused to comment.Jagdish Sharma released the pictures
Wayanad Landslide: Rescue operation continues in Wayanad for the seventh day, death toll continues to rise; 180 people missing
Wayanad Landslide There is devastation after a landslide in Wayanad, Kerala. The death toll has continuously increased since the landslide. Meanwhile, rescue and relief operations continued for the
Madhya Pradesh Violence: Muslim community will go to High Court against Shivraj government's 'sabotage' campaign, Qazi said - unilateral action is being taken
The matter of the campaign of the MP government to destroy the hideouts of the accused involved in the Ram Navami violence on April 10 in Khargone and some other places in Madhya Pradesh is now about
Rahul Gandhi said at Cambridge University: Can't see a world being built where there are no democratic systems
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived in Britain on Tuesday with a new look. He started his 7-day UK tour with a speech at Cambridge University. Addressing the students of the business school, Rahul
Raja Saab New Release Date: Prabhas' horror comedy film Raja Saab's new release date is out, the teaser will come on this day
After the success of Kalki 2898 AD, Prabhas is away from the limelight, but there is a lot of discussion about his upcoming film. Prabhas' upcoming film Raja Saab was scheduled to release on April 10,
New York: Teen arrested for hate crime, besides elderly Sikh tourist, two other Sikhs were attacked
A 19-year-old teenager has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the attack on three Sikh men in Queens in New York, US. He has been charged with a hate crime. One of these attacks happened
Get high on booze till 4 a.m. in Goa
Panaji, April 1 (IANS) The Goa government Tuesday relaxed excise norms to enable bars and alcohol outlets to stay open till 4 a.m. on payment of an additional fee.The move also makes things easier
