Varanasi: After four decades in active politics, BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi has observed, "I don't know what sin I have committed to have entered politics."
The 80-year-old Mr Joshi was in Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency, on Wednesday, and attended a bhajan recital that clearly moved him. It was there that he also said, "I am a student of science who got stuck in politics. I don't know if you get to see what all is happening around me but I am sure Baba Bholenath (Lord Shiva) can see it clearly. After all this when I reach a place of music, it feels like I am back among humans."
The beleaguered Dr Joshi faces the prospect of losing his seat to the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for next month's general elections. There is a growing clamour in the party's Uttar Pradesh unit that Mr Modi be fielded from the temple town. They say that fielding Mr Modi from Varanasi will help the party draw voters in a state that sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha. They also expect such a move to give the party an advantage in neighbouring Bihar, also a crucial state with 40 seats.
Mr Modi could contest two seats and one from home state Gujarat could be announced later today, said sources. But whether he will contest from Varanasi in Dr Joshi's stead may be decided only later. Varanasi votes in a latter phase on May 12.
The BJP veteran taught physics at the Allahabad University. He was also a three-term MP from Allahabad before losing in 2004. He then shifted to Varanasi in 2009 and won.
The 80-year-old Mr Joshi was in Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency, on Wednesday, and attended a bhajan recital that clearly moved him. It was there that he also said, "I am a student of science who got stuck in politics. I don't know if you get to see what all is happening around me but I am sure Baba Bholenath (Lord Shiva) can see it clearly. After all this when I reach a place of music, it feels like I am back among humans."
The beleaguered Dr Joshi faces the prospect of losing his seat to the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for next month's general elections. There is a growing clamour in the party's Uttar Pradesh unit that Mr Modi be fielded from the temple town. They say that fielding Mr Modi from Varanasi will help the party draw voters in a state that sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha. They also expect such a move to give the party an advantage in neighbouring Bihar, also a crucial state with 40 seats.
Mr Modi could contest two seats and one from home state Gujarat could be announced later today, said sources. But whether he will contest from Varanasi in Dr Joshi's stead may be decided only later. Varanasi votes in a latter phase on May 12.
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The BJP veteran taught physics at the Allahabad University. He was also a three-term MP from Allahabad before losing in 2004. He then shifted to Varanasi in 2009 and won.
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