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.
Russian Oil Price Cap: America and western countries will impose a price cap on Russian oil, which may be announced soon
During the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war since February 2022, Western countries are imposing various economic sanctions on Russia. Meanwhile, Russia is providing petroleum products to India at cheap
President Draupadi Murmu is coming to Maha Kumbh today and will take a holy dip in Sangam... CM Yogi will also be present.
On Monday, February 10, the first citizen of the country, President Draupadi Murmu will set foot on the holy land of Tirtharaj and will witness its grandeur and divinity. The President will take a
Corona Updates: More than 20 thousand cases, 325 deaths in 24 hours in the country; Elections postponed due to increasing infection in Hong Kong
21,016 new cases of corona infection have been reported in the country in 24 hours. During this 325 patients have died, which is the lowest in February. So far 4.28 crore people have been infected
Central Vista Project: Delhi High Court's decision to give green signal to construction challenged in Supreme Court
The matter of Central Vista has once again reached the Supreme Court. The Delhi High Court's decision refusing to stop the Central Vista redevelopment activities has been challenged in the Supreme
Milk Rate Hike: Milk became expensive as soon as the Lok Sabha elections ended, after Amul, Mother Dairy increased the price by Rs 2/liter
As soon as the Lok Sabha elections are over, the country's two largest milk-producing companies have increased the prices of their products. First Amul increased the price of milk by Rs 2 per liter.
Army Helicopter Crashes in Nagaland, None Hurt
Dimapur (Nagaland), Feb 2 (IANS) A Cheetah helicopter of the army crashed Monday in western Nagaland. Two pilots and an army official on board escaped unhurt, an official said."An aviation chopper
LIC IPO: The country's largest IPO will open today, here is the complete information related to the issue from the investment process
Today is a big day for the IPO market as well as for those investors, who were waiting for the country's biggest IPO for a long time. Yes, LIC's IPO is going to open for subscription in a while. Let
Gujarat: Kejriwal announces, AAP will contest all assembly seats in 2022
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal arrived in Gujarat on a one-day visit today. Kejriwal went straight from the airport to the Circuit House. He met leaders and workers of the Aam Aadmi Party here.
I&B ministry asks channels not to air BBC documentary
New Delhi, March 3 (IANS) The information and broadcasting ministry on Tuesday asked news channels not to air the BBC documentary carrying an interview of one of those convicted in the December
Psychologist helped reclaim composure: Australia's Warner
Sydney, Feb 10 (IANS) Australian opener David Warner has said speaking to a psychologist helped him reclaim his composure and assisted in his quest to begin the World Cup campaign with a relaxed
