Shatrughan Sinha hints at 'political realignment'

Relegated to the party's fringes, BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha on Wednesday indicated that he was open to political realignment if the current situation persists.

Soon after he described how veteran leaders are being sidelined in the BJP, including L K Advani and Yashwant Sinha, he was asked if he would join any other political party, to which he replied with his signature Bollywood dialogue, "Khamosh (keep quiet)" and smiled.

"Some people say Shatrughan will not get ticket this time. But they forget this was the talk last time and even before that. I would remind them I won with the maximum vote margin last time," he said.

Speaking at a panel discussion on Congress leader Manish Tewari's book "Tidings of Troubled Times", Sinha defended his comments on economic issues, saying, "If a lawyer can talk about finances and a TV actress can be the HRD minister and if a 'chaiwala' can be...you know who I'm talking about, then why I cannot talk about economy?"

Hitting out at the BJP top leadership, Sinha said there are several statesmen who have been made to sit in the Margdarshak Mandal like L K Advani. "He is like a silver lining in the dark clouds. We were expecting a lot would be done for him, his position was downgraded, his stature was reduced....President Chhodiye, Mantri chhodiye, unhein Santri bhi nahi banaya gaya jabki unhone kitno ko bachaya aur kitno ko banaya," said Sinha.