Frustrated with the “treatment” meted out to him in the Janata Dal (Secular), senior leader P.G.R. Sindhia has decided to remain neutral in the Lok Sabha polls though his followers are persuading him to join either the Congress or the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Mr. Sindhia told The Hindu , “Being the architect of the Janata parivar movement in the country, I have not been given any responsibility.” He said barring his 12-month tenure in the Bahujan Samaj Party, he has been with the Janata parivar for decades. “Changing the party when the elections are round the corner, is not the right thing to do for a leader of my calibre. I will remain neutral till the elections are over,” he said. Admitting that there was pressure on him from his followers, Mr. Sindhia said disturbed by the way he was being treated, his followers and well-wishers in both the national parties wanted him join them. “Some people suggested that I remain neutral. I have not decided anything so far. I may stay back in the JD(S),” he said. At the same time, he also clarified that the office-bearers of neither the Congress nor the BJP invited him to join the party. “It is my well-wishers who are persuading me,” he said. Asked if he was sidelined in the JD(S), Mr. Sindhia said if the party leaders had confidence in him, they would have given him some responsibility.
‘High regard’During an interaction with the media on Friday, JD(S) national president H.D. Deve Gowda said he had high regard for Mr. Sindhia. “If Mr. Sindhia was discontented, he would have discussed with me,” he said.
