Who will follow Rajnath’s orders,quips Shekhawat

He told reporters that even former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee should contest if his health improves.

“Advaniji may be the PM candidate,but others too can contest Lok Sabha polls. He is not the only one contesting elections,” he told reporters in New Delhi,when asked about his opinion on Advani being the PM-in-waiting.

He said there were several senior leaders in BJP like Advani,Rajnath Singh and Jaswant Singh. “But age-wise I am the senior most,” he said.

Shekhawat said he will contest the Lok Sabha elections if the public demands and his health permits.

On whether the party took a hasty decision in nominating Advani as the Prime Ministerial candidate,he said,“the party is free to take a decision in this regard.”

When queried whether he had congratulated Advani when the latter was nominated as BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate,he replied in the negative saying,“I did not even know.”

Asked whether he could also be an ideal prime ministerial candidate as he has served as Vice-President,Shekhawat diplomatically quipped,”How can I say this on my own? It is for you all to say…If there is any such law I will take advantage of that.”

Shekhawat said though he has not been a member of the BJP ever since he resigned after becoming country’s Vice President,he will not change his decision of contesting the Lok Sabha polls,even if BJP stops him from doing so.

“There is no such law which says that a former Vice President cannot contest Lok Sabha polls,” he said responding to Rajnath Singh’s contention that Shekhawat should not contest general elections as he held a constitutional post.

Hitting out at the BJP president,Shekhawat said,”Rajnath was not even born when I came into politics. It will take time for him to understand BJP,” adding,”Who will follow his orders…”

On Rajnath Singh’s comment that those who have taken a dip in the Ganga should not bathe on wells,the former Vice President said,”I have taken a dip in the Ganga several times and I have also bathed on wells.”

However,Shekhawat’s comments were laced with clarifications that he had no differences with Advani. “Neither can I be against Advani nor can he be against me,” he said.

Showing his photograph with Vajpayee and Advani,he said,”Since 1952,we have worked together not as party workers but one family…,” Shekhawat said,adding he wished no harm came to the party.

On being a potential PM candidate of BJP,Shekhawat told a TV channel that “It all depends on the democratic system. If the system brings something,then I will have to see how it is.”

He said he had conveyed to the BJP leadership that “if the public wants and my health permits,I will contest”. “There should be no surprise in it (on his contesting). I am free to contest the elections. There is no legal obstacle to it.”

Reacting to Rajnath Singh’s remarks,Shekhawat said “His comments are quite wrong. He should have consulted me before talking anything about me and about what I said.”

On the BJP chief’s contention that the former Vice President should not enter politics after holding the Constitutional post,Shekhawat retorted,”I have not jumped into politics. I have been in politics. I have never left politics,whether I am a member of a political party or not. I am not away from politics.”

Shekhawat,who served as chief minister of Rajasthan decades ago,was most scathing against BJP leader and former chief minister Vasundhara Raje. He confirmed that he had written a letter to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to probe all charges of corruption — said to be to the tune of Rs 22,000 crore — against Raje’s government.

He said his return to electoral politics was triggered by increasing corruption in politics and the growing menace of money power.

Expressing concern over allegations of party tickets being sold during the recently held assembly elections in Rajasthan,Shekhawat said that corruption and infighting could harm the party.

“Myself,Atalji and Advanji,all three of us have built the party and would not like to see it disintegrate in front of our eyes,” he said.

Asked whether he was disappointed with Vasundhara Raje’s tenure as the Chief Minister as he had backed her candidature during the 2003 elections,Shekhawat said,”I am not disappointed but saddened that I made her the Chief Minister.”

Shekhawat added that cleansing the party in the wake of corruption charges would only strengthen it. He,however,denied rumours that he had spoken to BSP chief Mayawati or Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh or that he was planning to join the fledgling Third Front.