Shatrughan Sinha fires fresh salvo at PM Modi

Disgruntled BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha has fired a fresh salvo at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the inconvenience caused to commuters whenever the prime minister's convoy passes through notwithstanding his avowed dislike for 'VIP culture'.

Amid speculations that his exit from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may be imminent, the Patna Sahib MP made the stinging attack on his official Twitter handle on Monday, March 11. 

Sinha hoped that Modi, whom he did not name in his tweets, would bridge the gap between his "kathani" (words) and "karni" (action), "wherever" he was after the Lok Sabha election results.

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"It is an MP who becomes the PM, so why the vast difference. It should start with you, setting an example for others to follow. Hope, wish and pray that whenever and wherever you may be after elections, you will take care and bridge the gap between 'kathani and karni'," Sinha said in another tweet.

Last year, Sinha was stripped of his VIP status at the Patna airport, which entailed exemption from frisking and vehicular access to the tarmac, in a development which many saw as being linked to his having fallen out with the BJP.

There is speculation that Sinha might be fielded as a candidate of the Grand Alliance from the Patna Sahib seat. 

"The Congress is not averse to fielding him on its own symbol despite a very strong anti-incumbency but the RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) seems keen on contesting the seat this time," a senior Congress leader, on condition of anonymity, told PTI.

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"For the Congress, it is not a matter of prestige. We hold that if Sinha contests on a Congress ticket, he may retain a chunk of his own Kayastha community votes, some other upper caste urban voters besides the RJD's traditional support base of Yadavs and Muslims," the leader added.

"If he fights as an RJD candidate, he will end up annoying the sizeable upper caste and urban voters. We hope better sense prevails," the Congress leader said further.