BJP lawmaker Shatrughan Sinha promised to continue raising issues "objectively". (File photo)
BJP lawmaker Shatrughan Sinha, who was apparently sidelined by his party during Bihar Assembly election, today ruled out retiring from politics and promised to continue raising issues "objectively".
"I am yet to see many springs in politics ... there is too much time for that (retirement)," Mr Sinha told reporters when asked if he planned to hang up his politician's boots following the "disregard" by BJP.
Asked if wished to withdraw from politics like fellow Bollywood colleague Amitabh Bachhan, 70-year-old leader said the comparison was not even as "I have been member of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for four times."
Mr Sinha, popularly known as "Bihari Babu", was talking to mediapersons a day before the release of a biography on him "Anything but Khamosh" in his home town.
In response to a question as to why was he "ignored" within the party, Mr Sinha, the second term Lok Sabha member from Patna Sahib, disagreed being "ignored" by BJP and said in days to come he would participate in the party functions.
He also dismissed chance of leaving BJP. "I have said many times and say even today, BJP is my first choice and most probably would be the last choice," he said.
"It's all within the family ... you know utensils collide within family," Mr Sinha said on his not so sweet relations with the BJP leaders since eve of Bihar poll.
Mr Sinha, who served as Cabinet minister in NDA government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, said he joined BJP "at the peak of his film career when BJP used to be party of two MPs. My contribution to the party could not be ignored."
"Politics is a mission for me and not a profession. I came to politics to do something for common man and would continue to raise issues concerned with them and which are also good for the party," Mr Sinha said.
Mr Sinha had embarrassed his party on several occasions by meeting and praising rivals like Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad.