Shatrughan Singh, actor turned politician, is already in the cross-hairs of his party's leadership for his repeated praise of Nitish Kumar in the run-up to the election.
Apart from defiantly driving up to congratulate the men who handed his party a humiliating defeat in Bihar, Shatrughan Sinha also assessed today that projecting him as chief ministerial candidate could've saved the BJP some face.
"I am not bragging, but I do feel that when the darling of Bihari people, the son of the soil, the original Bihari Babu was deliberately sidelined, it definitely had an impact on my supporters and fans," Mr Sinha said to news channel India TV. "We could have definitely got more seats than what we got," he said.
The BJP and its allies had to settle for a paltry 58 seats as the Nitish Kumar-Lalu Yadav-Congress 'Grand Alliance' won 178 seats, a two thirds majority in Bihar.
Mr Sinha met both Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav in Patna today with warm hugs and fulsome praise.
"Nitish Kumar is a tall leader and will be good for Bihar," he said after meeting Mr Kumar, who will be Bihar chief minister for a third term.
Asked if he did not fear disciplinary action by his party, Mr Sinha said, "If somebody wants to take me to task they're welcome to do so, I have done no wrong," adding, "If the BJP thought I was an embarrassment, I would not be in the party."
Shatrughan Singh, actor turned politician, is
already in the cross-hairs of his party's leadership for his repeated praise of Nitish Kumar in the run-up to the election. After Sunday's defeat, he needled his party further in a series of controversial tweets.
"It appears the issue of Bihari vs Bahari (and Bihari Babu's absence) has been settled once and for all," he tweeted.
"Bihari vs Bahari (outsider)" was Nitish Kumar's key attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who led the BJP's campaign in Bihar.
The outspoken Mr Sinha had earlier criticised the BJP's decision not to project anyone as presumptive chief minister and seek votes for the PM.
"Punish those who led the BJP to defeat in Bihar," Mr Sinha said yesterday, one among several voices of criticism within the BJP after the defeat in Bihar.
Sources say the BJP is expected to take action soon against Mr Sinha.