The Hindu : National : Wary of Vasundhara, Jaswant opts for Darjeeling

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Wary of Vasundhara, Jaswant opts for Darjeeling

Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI: Why is the BJP’s Jaswant Singh, leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, seeking to enter the Lok Sabha from Darjeeling and not from a constituency in his home State, Rajasthan?

Most party leaders simply shrugged their shoulders. Why not Darjeeling, some of them asked. However, a BJP leader well versed in the party affairs in the State said: “Mr. Jaswant Singh knows that if he were to contest in Rajasthan he would run the risk of [former Chief Minister] Vasundhara Raje personally ensuring his defeat.”

In the Assembly elections a few months ago, Mr. Singh did not campaign at all. The lack of understanding between him and Ms. Raje is acknowledged in the BJP. Some partymen blamed her for the case filed against Mr. Singh for offering a few grains of opium to his guests in traditional feudal style. And earlier, Mr. Singh’s wife filed a case against some supporters of Ms. Raje for “denigrating” Hindu religion by printing posters in which she appeared as a goddess.

A senior party functionary said Bimal Gurung, president of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, was prepared to extend GJM support to the BJP provided it fielded in Darjeeling a senior leader who would effectively take up the issue of a separate Gorkhaland in Parliament. Mr. Singh agreed to be that candidate and the decision was taken at the residence of the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, L.K. Advani, here on Thursday.

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