BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy on Monday sought to wriggle out of a controversy triggered by his remark that BJP should sit in the opposition in Jharkhand, saying it was his personal opinion before the alliance with JMM was formed and he was firmly with the leadership's decision on the issue.
"At an ABVP conference in Kolkata on December 26 a reference was made to Jharkhand where an opinion was expressed that in absence of a full mandate, BJP should sit in the opposition. This was prior to any decision taken in Jharkhand by BJP," Rudy said in Delhi.
The Rajya Sabha MP maintained that at that juncture, the BJP Parliamentary Board in Delhi was exploring three options: staying out of government and sitting in the opposition, supporting the government from outside, and joining and being part of the government.
"The decision to opt out any one of them was left to the central leadership visiting Jharkhand and consultation with the state leadership," he said. The senior leader said it was decided to form a government in Jharkhand with JMM and AJSU after assessing the ground realities.
"Party has taken a stand and I am with the stand of the party," Rudy said. Earlier, opinion was divided on the issue of forming a government with JMM, with a camp led by former party chief Rajnath Singh supporting the idea. PTI
