Shah rules out joining ministry

LUCKNOW: BJP chief Amit Shah on Monday said he is happy being the party president and ruled out joining Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre. Shah’s filing of nomination for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from Gujarat triggered speculation about him joining the Union ministry.

The buzz about possible ministry expansion has been generated as many ministers are currently holding multiple crucial portfolios in the National Democratic Alliance government.

There are talks that Shah, Modi’s closest confidant, was given the Rajya Sabha nomination to pave the way for his induction into the Modi government’s Union ministry.

“I am very happy with my job and discharging my responsibilities with full devotion, you don’t speculate,” a vividly relaxed Shah said while interacting with media persons on Monday, the concluding day of his three-day Lucknow visit.

Shah also rubbished the allegations that under him the BJP is creating rifts in the Opposition ranks be it in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh or Gujarat.

The Congress recently flew out a group of its MLAs from Gujarat to Karnataka ahead of August 8 RS polls, accusing the BJP of trying to lure them.

“Accha chalo Gujarat mein toh hamari sarkaar hai, par inhoney Bengaluru mein kyon vidhayakon ko kamrey main band kar rakha hai (Ok, it’s a BJP government in Gujarat but why have they kept their MLAs confined to a room in Congressruled Karanataka’s capital Bengaluru,” Shah asked.

“Arrey bhai, wahan toh unhe ghoomney do (at least let them move freely there),” he said with a smile. He was flanked by UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath and deputy chief ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma. “Hamne koi dal nahi toda hai (we have not broken any party),” he said, denying BJP had any role in the breakup of Bihar’s grand alliance

“What could we do when Nitish himself decided to resign and sever ties with the RJD? Nitishji wasn’t interested in continuing with those accused of corruption,” Shah said.