BJP expels Jaswant Singh for six years

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has expelled veteran leader Jaswant Singh, who is contesting the Lok Sabha poll as an Independent in Rajasthan's Barmer constituency against the party's official nominee, after he refused to withdraw his candidature on the last day of withdrawal of nominations.

The decision to expel Singh, 76, for six years was taken by BJP President Rajnath Singh, a party statement said.

Rajasthan BJP unit has taken hard stand since the day when Jaswant Singh announced to contest election from Barmer as independent candidate.

Singh had earlier said he felt betrayed by both Rajnath Singh and Vasundhara Raje, even though he had supported the two for the posts of BJP president and Rajasthan chief minister respectively.

"I suggested Vasundhara Raje for Chief Minister and Rajnath Singh for President. They have betrayed me. This isn't just a betrayal for me, but a dictatorship that disregards seniors as well as the workers of the party," Singh said.

"I gave three options for constituencies to the BJP, Barmer was the first option. I have been an MP for nine terms and had told the BJP that these would be my last elections. I had requested that my name be declared early since it is a large constituency, but it was not done in a very planned manner," he said.

"The ticket was given to someone who had crossed over from Congress. This isn't my betrayal, BJP workers have been betrayed," he added.

Singh further said that he was "contesting on principle, and honour - not just my honour, but the honour of all the people of Barmer.

Singh had earlier said that he is not a furnishing table or chair that the party will keep on changing his place according to their suitability.

"I saw a leader of the party on television saying that they were not able to adjust Jaswant Singh, but now we will adjust him. The views behind these words are full of ego and arrogance. It is very insulting," Singh said.

"I am not a furnishing table or chair that you will keep on changing my places according to your suitability," he added.