'This election is a battle between hope and opportunism'

March 23, 2019 15:11

Union Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday expressed gratitude to the BJP for fielding him from Bihar's Patna Sahib Lok Sabha constituency, while refusing to comment on Shatrughan Sinha, the sitting MP, who has apparently been dropped for his critical views on the top leadership.

"Patna is my city. I was born and brought up there. I was a member of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh there and I have emotional connections with Patna," Prasad said after he got Lok Sabha ticket from Patna Sahib seat.

The actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha had won 2014 general elections from the constituency on BJP ticket. However, he was dropped from the list. Sinha has been vocal against the top leadership of the party on various occasions in the past.

Refusing to comment on him, Prasad said: "I have not commented on him before and I will not do it now." However, he added, "This fight will be on issues of development; this would be between hope and opportunism."

He added, "This election is about hope and making Narendra Modi the Prime Minister of the country again. We have worked in the IT sector in Patna. Many Business Processing Outsourcing and innovation centres started there, I will take these works forward. The voters of Patna are very aware and they know which way takes India forward," he added.

Lok Sabha MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy, who has been re-nominated by the party from Saran constituency, said: "Saran has been a bastion of Lalu ji. I have been again given the opportunity to fight election from there. I would thank the party and leadership for this."

On being asked about Sinha, he said, "I don't know where he is and from which party he is going to contest elections. We are clueless about him as of now."

-- ANI

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

Top Mumbai school axes principal over social media activities

Shaikh, the principal of Somaiya School in Mumbai's Vidyavihar area, described her "termination" from the post as "completely illegal, drastic and unwarranted" and expressed shock over the "politically motivated" action.

Glorification of violence: India slams Canada over Khalistani float in parade

India also accused Canada of allowing "celebration and glorification" of violence, expressing concerns over the security of Indian diplomats in that country, and said it expects Ottawa to ensure that they are able to carry out their...

Mayawati sacks nephew Akash as party co-ordinator, heir

Announcing it on X, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said she has taken the decision in the interest of the party and the movement and till the time Anand gains "full maturity".

In Pictures - Modi to Kharge, famous faces at polling booths

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar supremo Sharad Pawar were among the famous faces who queued up at the polling booths...

IPL PIX: Samson sizzles, but Royals lose to DC

Sanju Samson's entertaining half-century went in vain as Rajasthan Royals suffered a 20-run defeat against Delhi Capitals.