National

I’m not answerable to Rajnath: Shekhawat

Bhairon Singh Shekhawat

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party president Rajnath Singh’s effort on Wednesday to control the damage perceived to have been done by the former Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat’s announcement expressing a willingness to jump into the poll fray, came to naught. For, Mr. Shekhawat said he was not answerable to Mr. Singh as he left the BJP on becoming Vice-President in 2002.

Earlier in the morning, Mr. Singh told journalists here that he did not think it would be wise on the part of Mr. Shekhawat to contest a Lok Sabha seat. “After bathing in the Ganges why would one want to swim in the local well?” He suggested that after enjoying the position of Vice-President for five years, Mr. Shekhawat should not want to enter the Lok Sabha as MP. Also it was against an established tradition — of former Vice-Presidents not entering active politics.

On Monday, Mr. Shekhawat said in Kota that health permitting, he could contest the Lok Sabha poll from Jaipur. Immediately, some BJP leaders saw a move by Mr. Shekhawat to throw his hat into the ring to become the National Democratic Alliance’s prime ministerial candidate.

Against this backdrop, Mr. Singh categorically said the NDA had already named L.K. Advani the NDA prime ministerial nominee and there could be no change in that position.

Soon after, Mr. Shekhawat told journalists in Jaipur that he had not asked Mr. Singh for party ticket, that he resigned from the BJP in 2002 when he became Vice-President and he was “not answerable” to Mr. Singh. Apparently, he also clarified that he did not say he wanted to be the NDA’s prime ministerial candidate.

As for Mr. Singh’s reference to the “tradition,” it seems Mr. Shekhawat pointed out that C. Rajagopalachari became Chief Minister of Madras after holding the position of India’s Governor-General.

Mr. Shekhawat is likely to travel to Delhi on Thursday and call on the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

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