In U-turn, Guj bhajan singer Chauhan denies joining BJP

Barely two days after "joining" the ruling BJP in Gujarat, popular bhajan singer Hemant Chauhan on Wednesday made a U-turn denying any association with the saffron party and politics.

However, the BJP said the singer only meant he cannot be a part of active politics and has issued a clarification on his stand due to some "technical reasons".

On August 19, as many as 20 artists and celebrities from Gujarat, including Chauhan, joined the saffron party under its ongoing membership enrollment drive.

They were welcomed into the party fold by state BJP president Jitu Vaghani at a function held at the party headquarter in Gandhinagar.

The BJP had even released photographs and a press note saying Chauhan and 19 other artists have joined the party.

After the event, Chauhan told reporters that he and other artists had joined the BJP because "it works for welfare of the people and always gives respect to the artist community".

However, in a video message in Gujarati issued on Wednesday, Chauhan said an artist can never become part of a political party.

"I want to clarify to people that I have not joined the BJP. Do not believe in rumours. I do not want to reduce my reputation by joining any political party. I am an artist and artists can never discriminate among various parties. An artist belongs to everyone, not to any specific political party. Please discard this misunderstanding that I have joined the BJP," he said.

The singer clarified he had attended the BJP event in his capacity as a "senior artist".

"That function was about felicitating artists and I remained present as a senior artist only. I had refused to contest elections five years back. It's not my cup of tea. I am a bhajan singer and I can never be a full-time political worker," he added.

However, state BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya said Chauhan was only trying to suggest that he cannot be a part of active politics.

"Chauhan has cited some technical reasons (while issuing the clarification). What he is suggesting is that he does not want to be a part of active politics or contest the polls. The party respects and welcome his feelings," he said.