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Congress to field candidate against Shekhawat

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday said that it would field a candidate against the former Vice-President, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, if he contested the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Congress media cell general secretary Veerappa Moily told journalists here that as a major party it was the duty of the Congress to contest all Parliamentary seats.

On being asked whether it was right for a former Vice-President to contest elections, Mr. Moily said there was no bar on his contesting. “People who have held Constitutional posts do not contest on convention.”

Asked whether he considered Mr. Shekhawat a ‘secular’ leader, Mr. Moily said the Congress did not consider the party he represented, the Bharatiya Janata Party, secular.

Mr. Shekhawat has expressed his desire to contest the Lok Sabha election from Rajasthan.

Talking tough on party rebels, Mr. Moily was also of the opinion that the Congress should not become a ‘transit point’ for the rebel leaders who come and go on their own will.

Reacting to reports of the suspended Congress leader from Maharashtra, Narayan Rane, having sought an appointment with the party president Sonia Gandhi, Mr. Moily said Mr. Rane was still under suspension and was expected to give an explanation on his action which he was yet to give. The decision to whether or not to grant him an appointment, though, was with the party president, he said.

Mr. Moily said that it was time for the party to think before allowing such leaders back into its fold.

There was a provision of a ‘waiting period’ before these leaders were given any posts or ministerial berths. The Congress could not give shelter to everyone, he said.

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