Now, Bihar MP raises voice against Shah-Modi regime

The voices within the BJP seem to be getting shriller after two back-to-back electoral drubbing, with party MP Bhola Singh joining four veterans led by L K Advani to demand fixing of responsibility for the humiliating defeat in Bihar Assembly polls.

Rebel actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha also fired a fresh salvo, saying that the party should not run away from accepting responsibility for the defeat. “Right and high time to follow the friend, philosopher, guru, Guiding Light & his team of 4. Relay race has begun. Gang of 4-Bang on target,” Sinha said in a series of tweets.

Advani, M M Joshi, Shanta Kumar and Yashwant Sinha in a joint statement had refused to accept the assessment of party’s parliamentary board that the loss in Bihar was a collective responsibility and sought accountability.

Bhola Singh and Shatrughan Sinha were on the same page that leadership cannot limit itself to enjoying kudos after victory. “The situation during the parliamentary elections had helped ‘Modi magic’ create an impression among voters....but it is nowhere seen now when the situation has become normal. The Bihar poll outcome has proved that Modi magic is not durable,” Singh said.

Taking on party chief Amit Shah, Singh said the top brass was “drunk in power” and always “surrounded by sycophants”.At a time when the knives are out in the organisation, the Modi-Shah camp is divided on whether action should be initiated against veterans and other colleagues who are damaging the party’s image through controversial statements.  While Nitin Gadkari has sought action against them, Rajnath Singh is believed to be of the view that dissidents should not be crushed.

Singh felt that suggestions of the veterans should be pondered over since patriarch Advani and Joshi have experience and contributed immensely to the party’s growth. Singh, Gadkari and M Venkaiah Naidu were three former party chiefs who had issued a counter statement disagreeing with veterans’ views.