I’ve not been sidelined in party,says Arjun

Congress leader and HRD minister Arjun Singh has refuted a suggestion that he has been sidelined by his party.

Congress leader and HRD minister Arjun Singh has refuted a suggestion that he has been sidelined by his party which denied poll tickets to his son and daughter.

“Had I been ignored in the party set up I would not have been campaigning for Congress nominees,” Singh said replying to a question here after addressing an election rally on Monday for party candidate Bhola Pandey from Salempur.

Asked about the denial of Congress ticket to his son Ajeya Singh from Sidhi and daughter Veena Singh from Satna in Madhya Pradesh,Singh said that he would speak about it when he would start campaigning from April 13 in Madhya Pradesh.

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The senior congress leader,however,became emotional during the rally and said,”Bhola Pandey is also like my son,you (people) should ensure his victory.”

Singh could not stop his tears and was seen wiping his eyes several times with his handkerchief during the meeting.

Later,when reporters asked him in Azamgarh about the reason behind his tears,Singh brushed it off saying “Is umar me aisa hota hai” (It happens at such an age).

To a question on Congress’ prospect for the post-poll alliances with left parties and Third Front in government formation,Singh said,UPA would form a government on its own.

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Singh said that RJD,NCP,LJP and SP would remain with the UPA after the elections. He also exuded confidence that Congress would perform better than last time in Uttar Pradesh.