No grudges about being denied ticket: Ex-Har BJP chief

Mahendragarh : Former Cabinet minister Ram Bilas Sharma, who is credited with establishing the BJP in Haryana and is now being called the state unit’s “vat-vriksha”, says he holds no grudges against anybody for being denied a ticket for the assembly polls and will continue to serve the party. The 74-year-old five-time MLA from Mahendragarh and a three-time state minister had filed his nomination for the poll as the BJP delayed the announcement of its nominee till the eleventh hour. But the party convinced him to back out in support of official candidate Kanvar Singh.

“I have given more than five decades to the party. (Former prime minister Atal Bihari) Vajpayee ji used to tell me that I have to stick to Haryana and establish the party’s base in the state and I continue to do so,” Sharma told PTI in an interview.

“Many of my fellow politicians have switched sides but I stayed and will continue to do so. The party might have some reasons to deny me a ticket but I have no grudges,” he said. Even though Sharma now vows loyalty and gratitude, that he was hurt on being denied a ticket became clear when he got emotional in front of his supporters recently as they appealed to him to contest as an Independent. A video of him unable to hold back his tears went viral earlier this month. “It was obvious to get emotional. I have always had their support but I told them that when I die, I want to go with the BJP flag only’.

There were enough chances to switch sides over the years, but if I didn’t make a move then, I would prefer to sit back now,” he added. Sharma expressed confidence that the BJP will form a government in the state for a third time. “I am campaigning too in support of my fellow leaders and candidates. It is clear that the party will form a government,” Sharma said, refuting reports of anti-incumbency in the state.

“There is no anti-incumbency, people have faith in the BJP’s track record in the state and are sure that the pending tasks will be finished in the third term,” he added. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini had visited Sharma at his residence to “clear the air” and urge him to join the party campaign, where he is often referred to as the Haryana BJP’s “vat-vriksha”, a towering personality. Sharma was seen as a probable for the chief minister’s post in 2014 when the party won a majority in the state assembly the first time and he was state BJP chief.