New Delhi

Shekhawat wants to jump into the poll fray

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

“It is not just a wee bit embarrassing, it is hugely embarrassing,” said one BJP 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 Sabha poll, his ability to reach across to politicians in other parties would be an advantage for the BJP. Even party president Rajnath Singh has talked about the BJP getting “some pre-poll allies and some post-poll allies”.

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