The controversy over denial of party ticket to Jaswant Singh refused to die down as he accused BJP chief Rajnath Singh of "deliberately" sidelining him and dared the party to expel him, but BJP cited "certain political compulsions" for the action.
"Rajnath Singh has sidelined me probably under some plan. I have been betrayed and insulted. I am very much disappointed but I have not quit the party and I am not willing to do that," the 76-year-old BJP veteran told PTI.
Rajnath said "extraordinary decisions are taken in extraordinary situations" but refused to elaborate.
"Even while desiring from the depth of our hearts, it was not possible for us to give ticket to Jaswant Singhji from Barmer," he said.
"I talked to everyone. Everyone respects him. But there were certain political compulsions because of which the ticket could not be given to him," he said.
Jaswant is now contesting as an Independent candidate from Barmer in Rajasthan.
Contradicting his party colleague Sushma Swaraj, Rajnath also suggested that Jaswant was denied ticket from Barmer after the Central Election Committee discussed the issue.
When asked about Sushma's statement that the issue of nomination from Barmer was not decided by CEC, the BJP chief refused to go into specifics, merely saying, "Rajasthan issue was discussed in the CEC...All seats of Rajasthan were discussed in CEC."
Another BJP leader Arun Jaitley rejected Jaswant's allegations of personality cult in the party around its prime ministerial candidate and suggested the rebel leader's outburst against party leadership was only because of denial of ticket.
Asked about the party chief having talked to him and saying sorry for not granting him a party ticket, Jaitley said "A dignified action of party president vis-s-vis a senior leader should not be interpreted as an admission of mistake.
