Jaswant Singh to file independent candidate nomination tomorrow

theindianrepublic, 23 March 2014, New Delhi: Jaswant Singh, who is annoyed with the BJP for not being given a ticket from Rajasthan’s Barmer Lok Sabha constituency, confirmed today that he will file his nomination as an independent candidate tomorrow. Singh, however, did not say if he would be quitting the party. He said any decision would be taken after he had a discussion with his colleagues. Earlier today sources said that Singh is likely to file the nomination without quitting BJP.

Singh, 76, expressing his anger towards the BJP told the reporters, “At first, they said that they can’t adjust my request. Then they said that they would adjust me. I am not a table, chair or furniture to be adjusted. The remarks smack of arrogance and are very insulting.”

Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj expressed displeasure over denial of the Barmer ticket to Jaswant Singh, which is the latter’s home constituency. “I understand that this is not an important decision and important decisions are not taken without strong reasons. I don’t know why such a decision has been taken because it was not taken during the BJP’s Central Election Committee Meeting. Personally, the decision has hurt me, whatever the reason be,” said Sushma Swaraj in Bhopal on Saturday.

Peeved at being denied a ticket from Rajasthan’s Barmer Lok Sabha constituency, senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh on Saturday said the party was being encroached by outsiders and there was need to distinguish between the “real” and the “fake” BJP. ”There is an encroachment on the BJP. It is overtaking the nature and character of the party. It’s so unfortunate that the party has been completely taken over by outsiders, who never have had any respect of the party’s ideology,” Jaswant Singh told reporters in Jodhpur.

Sources close to Jaswant Singh had said he may resign from the Bharatiya Janata Party soon, even as party leaders made efforts to efforts to mollify him.

A former external affairs minister and one of the founders of the BJP, Jaswant Singh is considered close to party patriarch L. K. Advani and has worked closely with former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

“The BJP is now divided into two factions, one which is real and the other is fake. But unfortunately, the fake faction has the reins of the party now,” Jaswant Singh said.

“One has to reflect upon the principles for which the party stood and the direction in which it is being led now,” he added.

Some political observers saw Jaswant Singh’s remarks as a veiled attack on his detractors within the party and decision-making process under party chief Rajnath Singh and prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

Jaswant Singh’s outburst comes soon after a row over a seat for Advani.

The party patriarch made clear his preference for contesting from Bhopal rather than Gandhinagar, the seat decided for him by the party’s central election committee.

Advani finally settled for Gandhinagar after persuasion by party leaders.

Sources close to Jaswant Singh said he may resign from the party soon and is likely to contest the Lok Sabha elections as an Independent candidate from Barmer.

Jaswant Singh is slated to visit Barmer by Monday.

“Everything will be decided only after I reach Barmer and have a discussion with my supporters,” he said.

Rajnath Singh, however, said Jaswant Singh’s stature could not be measured by a ticket.

“The BJP will use his capabilities fully,” he said.

Sushma Swaraj said the decision to deny a ticket to Jaswant Singh was not ordinary and such decisions were not taken without a reason.

“There must have been a reason for it. But personally, I am hurt,” she said.

Jaswant Singh represented Darjeeling in the outgoing 15th Lok Sabha. The BJP has fielded S.S. Ahluwalia from the seat now.

He wanted to contest from Barmer but the party fielded Col. Sonaram, who recently switched to the BJP from the Congress.

Following protests from BJP workers against the denial of ticket to Jaswant Singh, a meeting was held at the home of the former union minister’s son Manvendra Singh Friday night.

Some party workers took out a protest rally and burnt effigies of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, holding her responsible for the denial of ticket to Jaswant Singh. They also shouted slogans against her.

If Jaswant Singh decides to contest, he may upset the local equation as there are at least 1.5 lakh Rajput voters in Barmer constituency, experts said.

Jaswant Singh hails from Jasol village in Barmer district.