Jaswant Singh snubs BJP, files nomination as independent from Barmer

Barmer: Defying the BJP over ticket denial, Jaswant Singh today filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate from Barmer Lok Sabha seat.

Jaswant Singh was denied a ticket from Barmer. PTI

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.

Soon after filing his nomination, Singh said, "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 veteran BJP leader had yesterday made his intentions known, saying he was "not a piece of furniture" to be "adjusted" after polls and warned that the party will have to suffer the consequences of internal strife coming to the fore ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

Training his guns on BJP president Rajnath Singh who said the leader's services will be utilised appropriately, Jaswant Singh had retorted, "I am not a piece of furniture. The choice of the adjective 'adjust' itself is indicative of the mentality. You cannot adjust with principles and it is
insulting".

Slamming the BJP President's remarks that the party will compensate him after the elections, Singh had said, "I reject the thought and I reject the mentality behind it. Assumption is that they shall form the government and offer me some throttle. They can keep it for themselves".

BJP leader Arun Jaitley had said that Singh should accept the decision with a smile.

"He must accept the decision with a smile. This becomes a test of his loyalty and discipline. Restraint and silence are always a preferred option. Over-reaction may prove be a transient storm in a tea cup. Silence is always dignified and more gracious," Jaitley had said.

Jaswant Singh's earlier three terms in Lok Sabha have been from Jodhpur, Chittorgarh (Rajasthan) and Darjeeling (West Bengal).

He has been demanding a party ticket from his home constituency of Barmer, saying this is his last election. He represented the Darjeeling constituency in the outgoing Lok Sabha, from where the party has nominated former Rajya Sabha member S S Ahluwalia.

PTI