Never sought any party position: Shatrughan Sinha

Actor-turned politician Shatrughan Sinha has said he voiced his reservations over the selection of the new BJP team because he wanted the welfare of the party and not because he was hankering for any post.

Actor-turned politician Shatrughan Sinha has said he voiced his reservations over the selection of the new BJP team because he wanted the welfare of the party and not because he was hankering for any post.

HT Image

"I never asked, never got and never sought any position for me. As far as who got what, I can say I have got my 'Kad' (height), which sometimes becomes a matter of concern for others," the 6-feet-2-inch tall BJP leader said, evading a direct reply.

He was asked why he was cold shouldered by the BJP leadership in the new team of party office-bearers announced by party chief Nitin Gadkari on March 18.

Sinha was in the city last night to promote his son's debut film 'Sadiyaan', which stars Rekha, Rishi Kapoor and Hema Malini in the lead.

Incidentally, Hema Malini, who joined BJP after Sinha, is very much part of the new Gadkari team.

The BJP MP from Patna Sahib in Bihar had created a stir by saying that deserving candidates were ignored by the new BJP chief and had dubbed Gadkari's team as "new wine in old bottle".

Asked to react to his statement about a vacuum in the party after Atal Behari Vajpayee quit active politics on health grounds, Sinha said the former prime minster's presence had been like a "golden ray" and his absence has weakened the party's progress.

"Atalji has been one of the tallest leaders of our country. He has been like a golden ray and his absence has weakened the political progress of BJP.

"We say new people should come but there is no substitute for experience. We also need guidance from our elder leaders. And that's what we are lacking. We have not been able to get Atalji's guidance because of his poor health and some other reasons," Sinha said.