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Shekhawat wants to jump into poll fray

Neena Vyas

“Is he challenging NDA’s declared choice for Prime Minister, Advani?”

NEW DELHI: The grand old man of the BJP and former Vice-President, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, on Monday expressed his willingness to test the water in the Lok Sabha elections, much to the embarrassment of the party. He was speaking to journalists in Kota, Rajasthan.

“It is not just a wee bit embarrassing, it is hugely embarrassing,” said one functionary who did not want to be quoted. The question on almost everyone’s mind in the party is whether Mr. Shekhawat is throwing his hat into the ring for the prime ministerial candidate and thus challenging the declared NDA choice, L.K. Advani.

Just 18 months ago, Mr. Shekhawat emerged scathed from the electoral battle for President of India. Undeterred, the man, who has been Chief Minister of Rajasthan more than once, now says he is willing to contest the Lok Sabha poll if that is what BJP workers and the people want.

One senior leader admitted that if Mr. Shekhawat were to ask for party ticket, no one would tell him he should not contest. After all, there is no constitutional bar on former Vice-Presidents entering the Lok Sabha.

What has upset the BJP? Well, if he were to enter the electoral fray, naturally he would be seen as the oldest and tallest party leader, who has had a natural ability to make friends across the political divide. In fact, during the July 2007 presidential election, it was this very quality that was commended by Leader of the Opposition Advani and several party leaders were convinced that he would get ‘across-the-board’ support.

In the new context of his willingness to contest the Lok Sabhapoll, his ability to reach across to politicians in other parties would be an advantage to the BJP. Even party president Rajnath Singh has talked about the BJP getting “some pre-poll allies and some post-poll allies.”

Mohammed Iqbal

writes from Jaipur:

Mr. Shekhawat, talking informally to journalists at Kota, said he would prefer returning to active politics if his health permitted. As he was not a member of any party now, he was yet to decide on his political affiliation for the Lok Sabha polls, Mr. Shekhawat said.

He said his name might figure in the “list of probable candidates for Jaipur.”

Asked about his claim for the Prime Minister’s post, Mr. Shekhawat denied that he staked his claim for premiership at any point of time in the past. Later, he said at Tonk while returning to Jaipur that he might consider contesting from Tonk if the party workers so desired.

“Ticket sale in Rajasthan”

Mr. Shekhawat alleged that ticket was sold in the BJP camp for contesting the Rajasthan Assembly elections. “The BJP-led government did not take certain issues seriously which it should have. It resulted in the party’s defeat.”

Making his remarks for the first time after the BJP was trounced in the State, Mr. Shekhawat said the BJP’s defeat “for no reason other than its own mistakes” left the party activists dismayed. It was unfortunate that ticket was not only not given to the deserving candidates but was also “sold.”

He avoided questions whether the former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje was involved in the sale of ticket.

Describing corruption as the biggest challenge in the country, the former Vice-President said he would launch a nationwide struggle against the scourge if he chose not to fight the Lok Sabha elections.

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