Shatrughan’s wife likely to stand against BJP in Bihar

Patna: Speculation is rife that BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha is seeking a ticket for his wife, Poonam Sinha, from the JD(U) for the Bihar Assembly election. According to sources, the subject was widely discussed during Mr Sinha’s meetings with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna.

Though officially the JD(U) has not disclosed anything on the issue, several top party leaders have not ruled out the possibility. While JD(U) state president Basisth Narayan Singh tried hard to keep their meetings under wraps, the CM himself praised Mr Shatrughan Sinha and confirmed that they had been meeting regularly.

“Shatrughan Sinha is a very good artist and is the pride of Bihar. We have been  close since very long and we keep meeting. I don’t see why this has become an issue,” Mr Nitish Kumar said, refusing to reveal much about the subject of their long, secret meetings.

Mr Nitish Kumar may oblige the actor-politician by offering his wife a ticket from a Kayastha-dominated constituency in Patna, according to JD(U) leaders, who added that she may contest from either Digha or  Bankipore constituency in Patna.

Facing heat in his own party for earlier allegedly “signing” a mercy plea for the now executed convict Yakub Memon, Mr Sinha couldn’t be reached despite repeated attempts by this newspaper to confirm whether his wife would contest against the BJP in the Bihar Assembly election later this year.

Evading answering questions on the issue, several BJP leaders said “the right person to speak on the issue would be the party chief, Amit Shah”. However, several party leaders felt that Mr Sinha’s regular meetings with the Bihar CM could send the wrong signal to voters.

“Shatrughan Sinha is a senior and seasoned politician and an MP. He should keep a watch on who he is meeting with. I hope he doesn’t take any step which may harm the party,” BJP spokesperson Prem Ranjan Patel told this newspaper.

Earlier, the veteran actor had lashed out at Union finance minister Arun Jaitley for not checking facts before blaming Sinha for BJP embarrassment over Yakub Memon issue. “Did Mr Jaitley see my signature on the mercy petition,” Mr had asked.