BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha embarrassed his party yet again on Tuesday. The actor-turned-politician described Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as “PM material” and “among the select few good and successful CMs” of the country.
Known for speaking out of turn, Sinha chose to praise Nitish despite the JD(U)’s decision to walk out of the NDA after Gujarat CM Narendra Modi’s elevation as Chairman of BJP’s National Campaign Committee. The lok Sabha MP from Patna Saheb claimed he shares good rapport with Nitish Kumar and he (Sinha) would try to build bridges between the BJP and the JD(U). “Nitish Kumar is PM material. He is among the select few good and successful Chief Ministers in the country today,” Sinha told reporters at Patna Airport. Sinha clarified that he was saying so as Kumar was among many leaders qualified for the post. “At the end of the day one can become PM only after being chosen by the party and numbers in the elections,” he said.
Calling politics an art of possibility and flexibility, Sinha said, “If we are not together today it does not mean we cannot be together tomorrow also.” The BJP is in no mood to take his statements seriously. “Our (Bihar) State unit will look into it,” BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said. Party leaders fear any “action” against the sulking MP might trigger ‘backlash’ from a section of the party not considered close to the Gujarat Chief Minister.
Only a couple of days back, Sinha had cautioned the BJP against ignoring veteran leaders in the midst of the soaring popularity of Modi. “I believe lK Advani is the tallest leader, despite the soaring popularity of Modi. Ignoring or sidelining him would not be good for the party’s future,” Sinha had said, adding, “Advaniji is a statesman. With him around, the party would not be short of allies.” Meanwhile, Bihar BJP president Mangal Pandey sacked state party spokesman Ram Kishore Singh from his post for his reported anti-Narendra Modi remarks and served him a show cause asking him to explain his conduct.