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Shekhawat, who has created a flutter within the BJP by declaring that he would contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, also hit out at the party president Rajnath Singh for his remarks that somebody who has held a constitutional post should not enter the electoral fray.
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.
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Still the issue that caused british rule here ( the battle between rulers in India) exists here and hence the situation for slavery again..let Sonia rules us....
This old man wants a humiliation from a party(BJP) and from public. Ask this man if he is member of this party. To me he has to resign from party when he became Vice President of India.
Most of this is media creation to discredit BJP. Media have to do lot more misinformation campaign to help Congress/UPA to retain the current strength in next LS. But as seen in Gujrat, Karnataka, MP,Chattisgarh, Jammu etc. they will fail miserably....They have to talk about Karkare (not Capt. Sharma or Unnikrishnan!), show muslim terror victims always (although terrorists clearly instruct to spare muslims and kill all others as recent Mumbai evidence show..), talk more about destruction of nonexistant churches in Karnataka and Orissa (not the murder of any swamy..). Good luck media, hope people of India will have some common sense to see thro' all this conspiracy for their own good and boot out traitors and agents of Jehadi-missionary-marx in politics-media!
People should not forget that veteran Rajaji who held the highest post of first Governor General of India after independence was crowned by Congress as Chief Minister of Madras Presidency way back in 1950s. After all Shekhawatji may be aspiring for the Prime Ministerial post which he rightly deserves. Rajnath is too tiny tot who has to be ignored.
In any party the old people should religiously restrain from contesting in elections and pave way to the youngesters. The practice of training young for taking responsibility should be a regular practice. Old and experienced use their experience in guiding the young working in front. If all the old still continue in forefront and deprive the young their turn, the country is bound to go to DOGS. The old people should have introspective attitude before announcing in public their wish " If my health permits I shall Contest again" this statement is nothing but big "BULLSHJIT"
This is the real face of the BJP. Nobody is above anybody. There is no leadership at all. Leadership cannot emerge among equals. If the party has so many 'young' leaders aspiring for the top post,then they can only be PMs in eternal waiting.
Well, here's a neta who is so frail that we wonder when he might drop. He is now getting back into politics. This political power is a great narcotic that even the has beens are interested in getting at aste of it again and again!
ARJUN SINGH WAS GOVERNOR. ND TIWARI WAS GOVERNOR. SM KRISHNA WAS GOVERNOR, THEN WENT FOR ELECTIONEERING TO BRING BACK CONGRESS IN KARNATAKA. BUT, MR.SHEKHAWAT SHOULD CONFINE TO BE AN ADVISER OF THE PARTY THAN ASPIRING TO BECOME IN ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS, BASICALLY BECAUSE, HE IS TOO AGED. HE ENJOYS WIDE RESPECT, WHICH HE SHOULD REALIZE AND BETTER TO CONFINE AS A SENIOR ADVISER OF THE PARTY. AT THE SAME IT IS BETTER IF HE DOES NOT GO TO THE MEDIA WITH STATEMENTS; AFTER ALL HE IS A DISCIPLINED RSS MAN. RAJNATH SINGH IS TOO SMALL TO ADVISE A LEADER LIKE MR.SHEKHAWAT.