Shatrughan says BJP has sidelined him

BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha on Sunday accused the party leadership of sidelining him in the assembly elections in Bihar, and urged them to see how "your own Bihari (Babu) has been treated".

"My party workers, friends, supporters and well-wishers wonder why I am not seen on the campaign trail," the veteran actor said. "I assure them it is not by choice."

He said he had been "kept out thanks to insecure local leaders who we know very well... who have fed matter of convenience stories to the party leaders".

He said it was "not a question of Bihari vs Bahari but of how your own Bihari (Babu) has been treated by own people for no fault.

"However, in the larger interest of Bihar and its people, I hope wish and pray that our people get the support and trust of the voters," he added.

Sinha, who has fallen foul of the Bharatiya Janata Party after publicly praising Chief Minister and JD-U leader Nitish Kumar, said about the campaign trail: "Muhabbat karne waale, kam na honge. Teri mehfil mein lekin, hum na honge."