BJP understands well enough that Swamy is a huge distraction that may derail the government agenda on development and its deliverance but the fear is that any further public rebuke — other than of the PM — would make the party appear as a divided house and may even end up provoking the controversial MP into more unfettered attacks. In a tweet on Friday, Swamy certainly indicated his intention of doing so if pushed to a corner.

The 'nuclear fissile material' has imploded again and the ruling party does not have the foggiest idea about how to contain him. The nonchalance with which Subramanian Swamy operates is breathtakingly audacious. He has publicly stated that he has the ear of the top two in BJP, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, and even a public rebuke from the Prime Minister seems to have had little effect on him.

During a televised interview aired by Times Now channel on Monday, Modi said that nobody is above the system and quite clearly asked — albeit without taking his name — the BJP MP to shut up and not embarrass the government with his frequent, disparaging remarks against the Union finance minister and his top technocrats.

"Whether it is in my party or not, still I think such things are inappropriate. This fondness for publicity is never going to do any good to the nation. People should conduct themselves with utmost responsibility. If anybody considers himself above the system, it is wrong," the Prime Minister told Arnab Goswami, the interviewer. On being asked to confirm whether that was a "clear message", Modi answered in the affirmative.

If Modi thought he had done enough to restore order in his house, he'd have noted that Swamy's inertia lasted just about one day. In a double entendre which can either be interpreted as an explanation for his actions or even a rebuttal to the Prime Minister, Swamy suggested that instead of him "seeking publicity", it is the publicity that seeks him. He was referring to the hordes of media persons waiting outside his residence on Wednesday morning.

PTs : New problem: when publicity relentlessly seeks a politician. 30 OVs outside the house, 200 missed calls from channels and paparazzis ? — Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) June 29, 2016

But lest it gives an impression that the maverick politician is out to challenge even Modi's authority, another post quickly followed where the BJP MP declared that he admires the PM's "spine" and shall always stand by him.

@ashishbhutada :I have said before & saying now:Come hell or high water I stand by Modi. I admire his spine. No foreign power can buckle him — Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) June 29, 2016

During the series of controversies involving RBI governor Raghuram Rajan, finance minister Arun Jaitley, technocrats Arvind Subramanian and Shaktikanta Das, the media has generally been critical of Swamy and he has been widely slammed for his intemperate remarks. He was also perceived as the main reason why Rajan refused to apply for a second term.

For someone who has little use of political correctness, Swamy's run-ins with the media aren't anything new. On Wednesday, the journalist who conducted the Prime Minister's interview seemed to be his next target.

Friends tell me Arnab G is on his show nowadays foaming in the mouth chanting Muruga Muruga. Must have been bitten by a mad unelectable dog — Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) June 29, 2016

He even had a primer for his followers, whom he calls PTs (patriotic tweeples), on the terms he had used in that tweet.

@idiotinsearch : Muruga is a Tamil word for Subramanya — Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) June 29, 2016

@MrsTrolluSharma : Unelectable is term in UK canine trade for unwanted dog — Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) June 29, 2016

It is anybody's guess whom the controversial BJP MP was referring to with his uncharitable "unelected dog" remark. But he stepped up his attack on the media, accusing them of "twisting" his comments and vowed not to be 'provoked' to reply despite being the target of "deliberately planted false stories".

@siva_sharath : They have paid heavily to twist what I say. They did the same with Gadkari and Srinivasan by lies — Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) June 29, 2016

@sameer_polonium : Presstitutes are daily planting deliberately false stories hoping I will be provoked to reply. Ha! They have a hope! — Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) June 29, 2016

@madvigyani : NDTV will face my wrath in court after this Parliament session — Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) June 29, 2016

Swamy's track record presents an existential dilemma for the BJP. On the hand he is a useful tool to needle the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, on the other hand his propensity to indulge in friendly fire has party members and government servants scurrying for cover. There has been speculation that Jaitley, who has been at the receiving end of Swamy's many tirades, is deeply unhappy over party spokespersons refusing on record to chastise the maverick politician.

BJP understands well enough that Swamy is a huge distraction that may derail the government agenda on development and its deliverance but the fear is that any further public rebuke — other than of the PM — would make the party appear as a divided house and may even end up provoking the controversial MP into more unfettered attacks. In a tweet on Friday, Swamy certainly indicated his intention of doing so if pushed to a corner.

People giving me unasked for advice of discipline and restraint don't realise that if I disregard discipline there would be a blood bath — Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) June 24, 2016

Unable to take on Swamy directly, the BJP apparently got two recent functions cancelled where the Harvard-returned economist turned politician was scheduled to speak. It was seen as the craftiest way to prevent further attacks and also to send a message.

These are unlikely to deter Swamy, however. The 'nuclear fissile material' (a term used by Congress to refer to Swamy) may cause even more implosion.