Barmer, Mar 24: After the BJP told him he cannot run as its candidate from Barmer in Rajasthan, Jaswant Singh has decided to go solo. He filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate this afternoon.
"I will not say good bye till the party says goodbye," he said later, putting the ball on a possible expulsion firmly in the BJP's court. On other fronts, he was less diplomatic. "NaMo NaMo ka jo tamasha hai (this circus around NaMo) and the way decisions are being taken nowadays reminds me of 1975 - the tradition of being inclusive has reduced, arrogance has increased," he said, denouncing the party's focus on its prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi.
At the alleged lobbying of Vasundhra Raje, the BJP has picked Colonel (retd) Sonaram Choudhary as the candidate from Barmer. The retired army officer quit the Congress for the BJP just days ago. Mr Singh's supporters say it's preposterous for a newcomer to be rewarded at the cost of a veteran. But the retired army officer is from the dominant Jat community in Barmer, which could make him a vote-getter.
"I hope Jaswant Singh sees reason, and retracts his decision to contest. If the party tells you to work for the party, you must learn to accept that," said senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley.
In 2009, Mr Singh was expelled after his book was seen as cheerleading for Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. He was re-inducted 10 months later at the urging of LK Advani.
Adding to the new contretemps is the fact that Mr Singh's son, Manvendra, represents the BJP in the Rajasthan legislature.
Though Mr Singh won the last national election from Darjeeling in West Bengal, he said he wanted to fight this one from Barmer because he was born here.
Vasundhara Raje, Rajnath Singh betrayed me: Jaswant Singh
Barmer, Mar 24: Defying BJP over ticket denial, Jaswant Singh on Monday filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate from Barmer Lok Sabha seat and attacked party president Rajnath Singh and Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje, accusing them of "betraying" him.
Though the 76-year-old leader launched a stinging diatribe against Singh and Raje, he made no mention of party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.
As BJP president in 2009, Rajnath Singh had expelled him from party in a manner in which even a "peon" is not sacked, Jaswant Singh said, adding that he got carried away by emotions when he joined back the party.
The former Union minister said he had informed Advani almost 18 months back of his wish to contest his last election from hometown Barmer and then told Rajnath Singh and L K Advani a few weeks back.
"No announcement was made about Barmer in first few meetings (of CEC). I called up Rajnath Singh. He informed me the next day that I won't be given ticket.... Who was given ticket? Not a BJP worker but somebody who joined BJP from Congress and had been abusing us till recently. I was very hurt," he said.
Congress defector Sonaram Choudhary has been given the BJP ticket from Barmer.
Singh recalled his long association with the party's founder leaders Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani and lamented its current state of affairs.
"I have taken a step for Barmer. Relief is what I am feeling right now."
"I am contesting on principles and for honour, not just for my honour, but for the honour of all citizens of Barmer," he said.
The 76-year-old leader, who was accompanied by some of his supporters, filed the nomination papers in four sets in the collector's office.
The former Union Minister decided to contest the Lok Sabha elections as an independent after the BJP fielded former Congress MLA Sonaram Chowdhry, who last week joined BJP from the Barmer seat.
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