Leader should accept party's no with smile, says Jaitley

BJP leader Arun Jaitley Sunday differed with his party colleague Jaswant Singh over the latter's public protests over denial of ticket to him from Rajasthan's Barmer, saying the party's decision should be accepted with a smile as a test of loyalty and discipline.

His comments are in contrast to those of party leader Sushma Swaraj who had said Saturday that she was personally hurt by the denial of ticket to Jaswant Singh.

In an article on his website, Jaitley, the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Amritsar, said that restraint and silence were always a preferred option to a member whose wish could not be accommodated by the party.

Without naming Jaswant Singh, Jaitley said an overreaction may prove be a transient storm in a tea cup.

"Silence is always dignified and more gracious," he said.

Jaswant Singh, a former union minister, is said to be preparing to file his nomination from Barmer Monday, perhaps as an independent following denial of ticket to him by the party.

Jaitley said that many political persons desirous of being candidates succeed in getting a party nomination while many more get left out in an election season.

"What does a politician do when after a successful political career the party is unable to accommodate him once? That is when his discipline and political loyalty are to be tested," said the leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha.

He contended that membership of political party was a privilege and was also an act of self-oppression where personal views and ambitions were to be subjected to the collective wisdom of the party.

"At times, the party may flood leaders with privileges and positions. On other occasions, the leader may have to take 'no' as an answer to his desires. How does a politician or a leader react to such 'no'? He must accept the decision with a smile. This becomes a test of his loyalty and discipline," he said.

Jaswant Singh had told IANS Sunday that there will be "repercussions" because of the many differences that have come to the fore in the BJP.

The former union minister had Saturday said that the party was being encroached by outsiders and there was need to distinguish between the "real" and the "fake" BJP.