New Delhi

Former bureaucrat-turned-politician R K Singh plans to launch his own political party, five months after quitting the BJP, with a focus on "national and public interest".

In an interview with Dynamite News, Singh, a former IAS officer who rose to the rank of Union home secretary before joining politics and serving as a Union minister in the Modi government, said his proposed party will bring together "honest, educated and caste-free" individuals.

The 73-year-old leader said the party will focus on Bihar politics.

He was speaking to senior journalist Manoj Tibrewal Aakash during the interview series 'The Candid Talk'.

Singh, who joined the BJP in 2014 after retiring from the civil services, quit the party in November last year after being suspended.

The former Lok Sabha MP from Arrah said he was suspended because of his tendency to "speak out" on certain issues, after which he decided to quit the party.

"BJP suspended me because I used to speak out… But it was not the first time I spoke openly. I used to speak even when I was an MP," he said.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Singh said he was allowed to continue in the Union government despite his outspoken views.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi, despite my speaking out, kept me as the power minister for seven years, which was a great thing," he said.

He added that there was no interference from the Prime Minister's Office in his ministry, and he was given a free hand to function.

Singh, however, downplayed the BJP’s action against him.

"I do not consider my suspension from the BJP as a punishment," he added.

In the interview, he also spoke about JD(U) leader and former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and criticised his second tenure.

"His first term was fine. But in the second term, 99 per cent of ministers were engaged in corruption… You may not be indulging in corruption yourself, but if people around you are involved in corruption, it is a shame," Singh said.

He also raised questions over the current Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, criticising his reputation and leadership.

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"Samrat Chaudhary already does not have a good reputation. What will a person who is not honest, who does not have good character, who is less educated, what idea will he have, and what can he do?" Singh said.

Samrat Chaudhary was sworn in as Bihar chief minister on April 15, marking a major political transition with the state witnessing its first BJP-led government.