New Delhi: Controversial Member of Parliament (MP) Subramanian Swamy’s nomination to the Rajya Sabha a week ago surprised many, including members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Swamy’s comments in the house were expunged twice in the last one week and caused some heartburn among senior leaders.

“There is no question about being worried now. We used to be worried about the prospect of Subramanian Swamy joining Parliament earlier, now he is in Rajya Sabha and we have to bear with him for six long years. Why just Parliament, he made his presence felt across the country through his comments," said a senior BJP leader, who is also an MP of Rajya Sabha, on condition of anonymity.

Swamy’s statements, referring to the Constitution of a European country on 28 April were not only expunged, but deputy chairman P.J. Kurien also directed the media not to report the comments made by the BJP lawmaker. During the course of the same day, leader of opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad criticised Swamy and said that the BJP leader didn’t know the difference between the language used in Parliament and on the streets.

Interestingly, in the last one week, Swamy has also been warned by deputy chairman P.J. Kurien that he will have to take action against the BJP leader; Kurien had also asked Swamy to meet him in his cabin.

Interestingly, Swamy has now challenged the removal of his comments against Congress president Sonia Gandhi from Parliament records and has also moved a privilege motion against Azad. Swamy has accused Azad of falsely stating on the floor of the house that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) had blacklisted helicopter maker AgustaWestland and its Italian parent company Finmeccanica.

“The problem with Swamy is that it is difficult to control him. Today he is attacking the Congress and its top leadership, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, but it is possible that soon he will start attacking senior ministers and the NDA government as well. We now have to wait for the political damage Swamy can cause to the BJP and the NDA in Parliament," the BJP leader added.

Just as Swamy’s nomination to the upper house has created ripples, his induction in the BJP had also annoyed many within the NDA and the party at that time. “Why has Swamy been nominated? Is he an artist, writer or an actor? What was the need for the government to get him nominated by the President? Swamy’s affiliations are well-known. His induction was opposed by many and now, people are equally surprised at his nomination," said a senior MP of NDA, on condition of anonymity.

The NDA leader added that perhaps Swamy was nominated on the directions of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), because the decision has irked many leaders in the BJP. “Senior ministers should watch out for Swamy because it is a matter of time before he will start attacking them," the NDA leader added.

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