'U-turn will not ensure LS ticket to Shatrughan Sinha'

Two days after praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for doling out Metro Rail project for Patna, rebel BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha has again praised the Prime Minister for sops to Jharkhand.

“Welcome & acknowledge the 3 Medical colleges inaugurated by the Hon’ble PM in Dumka, Palamu and Hazaribagh in Jharkhand recently. The previous three colleges were inconvenient as they were far. These new colleges will be a boon for medical students as travel will be easier,” tweeted Shatru, in a sudden change of heart. Earlier, he had been quite vocal while slamming Modi in the last few years.

This was the second tweet by Shatru in the last one week commending Narendra Modi against whom he had been spewing venom, ostensibly for being side-lined in the party.

But his two successive praise for PM has failed to cut much ice with the BJP leadership. “We are grateful to Shatrughan Sinha for his kind words. Anybody who reposes his faith in Prime Minister is treated with love and affection. But making a U-turn is no guarantee for Lok Sabha ticket from Patna Sahib,” said Bihar BJP president Nityanand Rai, dwelling at length how Shatru had earlier used harsh language against Modi.

Shatru, who, of late, had been flirting with the RJD, Congress and AAP, was last seen sharing the dais with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in New Delhi recently. The rebel BJP MP, considered a staunch loyalist of party patriarch LK Advani, has often said he would contest Lok Sabha polls from Patna Sahib. “My location will be same even if there is a change in the situation,” he had earlier told DH.

However, Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi last week challenged Shatru saying he would forfeit his deposit if he contested from any other party.