Kirti Azad likely to quit BJP after January 14

PATNA: The rebel BJP MP from Darbhanga and former cricketer Kirti Azad indicated on Wednesday that his continuance in the saffron party was a matter of few weeks, but would take the call on joining the new political party only after the ‘kharmaas’ (inauspicious period of the Hindu calendar) is over on January 14.

“You know, it is the period of ‘kharmaas’. Nobody takes any decision during this period. I will announce my choice regarding joining the new party on January 17 or 18. I have lived an untainted public life,” Kirti told mediapersons, adding his father Bhagwat Jha Azad — former CM and a Congress heavyweight of his time — had taught him to “speak truth and always lead an honest public life.”

Azad also insisted that he was unlikely to change his parliamentary contituency, even as there have been lots of speculations in this regard. “I will contest the next parliamentary election only from Darbhanga, whatever the new political party,” Kirti said. Incidentally, his father represented Bhagalpur parliamentary six times from 1957.

Asked to explain the reasons behind his decision to quit the BJP, Kirti said, “It is the issue of black money and reneging on the promise to put Rs15 lakh in every bank account and provide jobs to 2 crore youths every year, and so on.”

While his presence in the BJP became tough a couple of years ago after he and other eminent cricketers had raised the matters related to Delhi Cricket Association (DCA) involving Union finance minister Arun Jaitley, Kirti said the latest cut he got was from Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi at a function held recently at the foundation laying function of terminal building at the Darbhanga airport.

“In the first invitation for the function, I being a local MP was listed among the six invitees. Finally, a lot of Bihar ministers took the stage and I was crowded out and given a seat in a corner,” Kirti said, adding: “They did not only insult me, but also the local people.”

Kirti also said he persistently lobbied with the Centre, defence ministry, ministry of civil aviation and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for the start of air services from Darbhanga and Purnia. Kirti said he had led a team of north Bihar MPs to PM Narendra Modi on December 8, 2015 for this purpose.

“I initiated the process. They, in the process of taking credit, have insulted me and the local people who supported the cause,” he said.