Shatrughan Sinha may be opposition candidate from Patna Sahib in 2019

Reacting to Bharatiya Janata Party MP and known Modi-baiter Shatrughan Sinha's statement about fighting the next Lok Sabha election from his current seat Patna Sahib in Bihar on either a Congress or Rashtriya Janata Dal ticket, both parties have indicated that they are ready to accommodate Sinha. However, both parties have maintained that Sinha will have to take a call which party he wants to fight from.

An RJD leader who did not wish to be named said Shatrughan might be fielded as a common Opposition candidate from Patna Sahib in 2019. "Until now he has not taken a decision. Neither, he announced any thing formally, " said an RJD leader.

Echoing the views, RJD spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha told National Herald that there is always a "natural space" for Sinha in the party and he remains Bihar's choice for ever.

"Let us not reduce him to politics only... He represent the cultural identity which a  Bihari needs. Besides, he enjoys extremely good relations with Lalu ji's family. I have never seen him giving any kind of remark which is adverserial in nature against Lalu ji," said Jha.

In fact Shatrughan has taken to routinely praising the RJD top leadership on Twitter. On June 13, he did not attend the iftar party thrown by NDA Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar, but instead attended the RJD iftar party at Tejashwi Prasad Yadav’s residence, and then poyred fulsome praise on Lalu's family on Twitter. “All praise for the truly worthy sons and daughters of a worthy father, who played immaculate hosts and were all a picture of poise, grace and strength in unity despite their towering father's absence. God bless all of you! Eid Mubarak to the entire nation!” tweeted Sinha on Wednesday night. On June 11 Sinha described Lalu’s two sons Tej Pratap and Tejashwi as “Arjuna-Yudhishthira combination”.

Congress says “anyone who has self respect can’t stay with BJP”

Congress, which is a junior partner to the RJD in Bihar sounded more cautious while talking about Sinha. Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee chief Shaktisinh Gohil said anyone who accepts and adheres to the Congress ideology is welcome in the party.

"Senior leaders like Advaniji, Sinhaji, Joshiji who gave their blood to the party are facing humiliation by the Modi-Shah combine. Any person who has self respect can not stay with the BJP, " said Gohil.

Sinha who is famous as Bihari Babu among his fans, rose to become a cabinet minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. He won Lok Sabha election from Patna Sahib constituency in 2009 and subsequently in 2014 as well. Sinha, who is considered close to former finance minister Yashwant Sinha and a protégé of Advani, has been sidelined in the BJP by the Modi-Shah camp ever since later became the PM.