Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches out to Jaswant Singh, seeks role in 'nation building'

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached out to Jaswant Singh, the BJP rebel who had unsuccessfully contested as an independent from Rajasthan's Barmer constituency, seeking the party veteran's contribution in "nation-buidling".

According to sources, Modi's letter acknowledged that Singh is a senior leader with much experience who had contributed to the BJP's growth and who should now help in building the nation.

It was not clear whether Modi's letter could signal Singh's eventual return to the party-fold. Sources close to Singh confirmed the letter from Modi but did not disclose its contents. Efforts to contact Singh did not succeed.

Singh served as minister for external affairs and finance in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Cabinet. He was expelled from the party when he decided to contest against BJP's official candidate, Col Sona Ram.

Singh was a member of the 15th Lok sabha from Darjeeling in West Bengal. This time, he told the party that he wished to contest from home state saying it would be his last election. When the party did not accede to his request, he decided to fight as an independent.

Soon after the elections were over, Singh had held a press conference in Delhi and said if elected as an independent, he would support the BJP-led government in Parliament.

Last week, Singh met L K Advani, another senior leader who finds himself on the sidelines under Modi's leadership. Many party leaders, however, think Modi's letter could put singh back in reckoning in the BJP.