In an exclusive chat with Express Newsline here on Tuesday morning, Seshan said, "The BJP's continuous attack on me, even on flimsy issues, amply shows that they are getting frightened by the overwhelming response I have been getting from people during my week-long electioneering in the constituency".

Countering the BJP's charge that he had tarnished the image of a constitutional authority like the Election Commission of India by jumping into the electoral battle, the former CEC sought to know "why the BJP had fielded former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) T N Chaturvedi in the 1998 Lok Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh? Did the BJP not realise then that the party was sending wrong signals to constitutional authorities like the EC in the country by fielding the former CAG?"

Seshan also ridiculed the BJP's charge that he was contesting the Gandhinagar seat on the Congress ticket as he was "power hungry".

"If former bureaucrats like Chaturvedi join the BJP and contest the general elections on its lotus symbol, they become holy cows. But, when people like me join the Congress and fight the elections on its ticket, they are dubbed as power hungry," retorted the former CEC. He also reminded the BJP that it was their party general secretary O Rajagopal who had approached him in the last elections.

Seshan pooh-poohed Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya's statement that he announce a list of "controversial" persons who donated to the Trust floated by Seshan. "Let Pandya come out with such a list if he has any. The minister doesn't seem to know even the correct name of my Trust. It is Desh Bhakta Trust and not Rashtra Bhakta Trust as the minister describes in his statement".

``The accounts of my Trust are duly audited and they are open to scrutiny by any person, including Pandya," said the former CEC.

The Congress candidate said it was really deplorable that the rival party leaders had chosen to attack him on flimsy grounds instead of challenging him on genuine issues concerning the nation and Gujarat.

"They say I have violated the Model Code of Conduct by calling on a group of agitating employees of the Gujarat Dairy Development Corporation in Gandhinagar. But, the CEO's office and the DSP think otherwise," he pointed out.

Referring to Haren Pandya's reported statement that an FIR was registered in this connection, Seshan said that when he got it checked with the Gandhinagar police, no such thing was found. "It seems the State Home Minister doesn't know what an FIR means," said the former CEC making light of the minister's statement.

About Advani's plan to camp in the Gandhinagar constituency for a week at a stretch for campaigning, Seshan said this showed how "my presence in this part of the State has sent jitters in the rival camp".

He added gleefully, "I have won half the battle". He wanted to know whether the BJP national leader had ever camped for so long in this constituency for canvassing in the past.