Outgoing Hazaribagh MP and Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jayant Sinha on May 23 responded to the show cause notice issued to him by BJP state general secretary and Rajya Sabha member Aditya Sahu.
On May 21, BJP had issued a show-cause notice and directed him two responds within two days asking him why he did not take part in the election campaign for BJP candidate Manish Jaiswal nor he visited the booth to cast his vote on the day of polling on May 20.
Also Read : India General Elections 2024 LIVE updates
In the response letter which he posted on social media X alleged that he was being unjustly targeted. He clarified his stand stating that he did vote through the postal ballot process, so therefore, it was for Mr. Sahu to allege that he did not exercise his responsibility to vote.
Mr. Sinha, the son of former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha said that he was surprised to receive the letter through the media. In the response, he recalled that he had already had a discussion with party president J P Nadda and requested him to relieve from electoral duties.
“On March 2, 2024, well ahead of the elections, I communicated my decision to step back from the electoral responsibilities to focus on combating issues arising from global climate change. This decision was publicly announced via a tweet for clarity and transparency, “Mr. Sinha said in the response followed by re-writing his X message which he had posted on March 2.
Giving the reply on not campaigning for the party’s candidate from Hazaribagh Manish Jaiswal and also not taking part in any event of the party, Mr.Sinha asserted that he was never contacted by BJP leaders for any event.
He wrote in the message that he congratulated Mr. Jaiswal on March 8, 2024 through social media and demonstrated his unwavering for the party’s choice.
“If the party had wanted me to participate in any election activities, you could surely contact me. However, not a single senior party official or MP/MLA from Jharkhand reached out to me post my announcement. I was not invited for any party events, rallies, or organisational meetings. If Babulal Marandi ji wanted me to participate, he could have certainly called me, but he did not,”Mr. Sinha said in the letter.
He also pointed out that he had received a call from Mr. Jaiswal on the evening of 29 April 2024 when he was in Delhi to invite to his nomination rally on May 1, 2024. He said that due to late notice, It was not feasible for him to arrive in Hazaribagh by the morning of May 1, 2024.
“Consequently, I travelled to Hazaribagh on May 2, 2024 and went directly to Jaiswal’s ji residence to express my regards. He was not present, so I conveyed my message to his family. There was no further contact from Jaiswal ji. I left Hazaribagh on May 3, 2024 and returned to Delhi. After informing the Lok Sabha speaker, I left India on May 10, 2024 to attend some pressing personal commitments overseas. The party had not asked me to participate in any event, so I saw no reason to stay. Before leaving India, I sent my vote through the postal ballot process. Therefore, it is wrong for you to allege that I did not exercise my responsibility to vote,”Mr. Sinha said. He also said that he has fulfilled all his party responsibilities with total sincerity and honesty.
“Given my contribution to the party and the circumstances, the public issuance of your letter is unseemly. Your approach demoralizes dedicated party workers and undermines the party’s collective efforts. Additionally, despite my loyalty and hard work for the party, it appears that I am being unjustly targeted,”Mr. Sinha said.
He stressed that to send him the letter after the elections are over, is incomprehensible.
