Former vice president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat died on Saturday, two days after he was admitted to a hospital in Jaipur after he complained of uneasiness and breathing problems. Shekhawat, 87, breathed his last at 11.10 am at the Swai Man Singh Hospital. Shekhawat's condition deteriorated today morning and he was put on ventilator, said Ashok Pangaria, another doctor at the hospital. The former vice president was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit on the night of May 13.
After throwing a virtual challenge to the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate L K Advani by stating that he may contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, former vice president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on Thursday sprang a surprise when he visited the former for a luncheon meet. "Shekhawat visited Advani at his residence today and spent about two hours with him. He also had lunch with the senior leader," informed a source close to Advani.
Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation marks the third instance of a vice president resigning mid-term in India. The article looks at past instances of vice presidents who resigned.
Adding to the BJP's fears, former vice-president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat met senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh on Friday.
Shekawat has been ill for the past 2 or 3 days.
Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat met United Progressive Alliance-Left presidential candidate Pratibha Patil on Saturday.
He was admitted on Tuesday following a mild viral fever.
Shekhawat was accompanied by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and other NDA leaders.
Amid a sombre mood, the mortal remains of former vice-president and thrice Rajasthan chief minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat were consigned to flames with full state honours in Jaipur on Sunday.
But the party has yet to evolve a consensus within the NDA over its choice, given Bihar Chief Minister and JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar's open support for Kalam.
Bhartiya Janata Party leaders are trying to sort out the differences between the party's prime ministerial candidate L K Advani and former vice president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, which cropped up after the latter declared his intentions of returning to active politics."As far as the BJP is concerned, L K Advani is our candidate for the post of the prime minister," party president Rajnath Singh said."I am contesting the Lok Sabha elections," the former VP had stated.
Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on Saturday decided to resign in the wake of his defeat in the presidential poll.
Former vice-president and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on Wednesday said he will not contest against the party's prime ministerial candidate Lal Kishanchand Advani, but left himself open to being a consensus candidate. Shekhawat, who had earlier said he may contest the next Lok Sabha polls, was asked if he could be a consensus candidate should the National Democratic Alliance led by Advani failed to attract enough MPs.
It was astonishing that the statement of a 86 year old leader, virtually retired and who by his own admission is not even in the party, should create so much turbulence in the BJP. From the way the party reacted, it seemed as if he was about to snatch away the PMship from Advani, says Neerja Chowdhury
Shekhawat has summoned his chartered accountant from Jaipur and asked him to compile the details so that it could be given to media persons and also posted on his personal website.
What might force the BJP to sit up and take notice is his letter to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot requesting him to probe the Rs 22,000 crore worth corruption charge against his predecessor Vasundhararaje Scindia which was incidentally levelled by the Congress party
Shekhawat owns less than one hectare, that too ancestral, in a Sikar district village of Rajasthan.
Senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha told rediff.com that the numbers were in favour of Shekhawat.
Unfazed by BJP's rebuff, former vice-president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat today said he would definitely contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election if his health permitted.
Former vice president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on Thursday sought to end speculation that he is an aspirant for the National Democratic Alliance's prime ministerial candidate. There have been reports for the past two days that Shekhawat might contest Lal Kishanchand Advani as the prime ministerial candidate.
In fact they had been expecting the defeat once the United Nationl Progressive Alliance decided to abstain from the election and not support Shekhawat.
Expelled BJP leader Jaswant Singh found an ardent supporter in former vice-president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat today when the latter praised his book on Pakistan-founder M A Jinnah and also appeared to reprimand the party for asking him to quit Parliament's Public Accounts Committee chairman's post.
Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on Saturday appreciated the Indian delegation's performance at the Tokyo ministerial meeting and said that the country had "fortified" its position on crucial issues.
'There was no communication from the party's leadership asking the MLAs not to vote and they exercised their franchise in favour of Shekhawat.'
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat in an exclusive interview with Sheela Bhatt.
Former vice-president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who created a flutter in the BJP by declaring his plans to contest Lok Sabha polls if his health permits, today denied that he was aspiring for the prime minister's post.
Respected as a deft politician, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat enjoyed the enviable reputation of 'Ajatshatru' -- for having friends across the political spectrum in his over five decades-long political career. The former vice president, who died in Jaipur on Saturday at the age of 87, was undoubtedly among the top three leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, along with Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani, who brought him to the centre-stage as vice president in August 2002.
In an exclusive interview to rediff.com, Vice President Shekhawat said: Janabhavna mere saath hai (feelings of the people are with me).
Patil said her meeting with Shekhawat would be a courtesy call.
The Vice President will be addressing the national assembly of Armenia.
An overview of the past vice presidential elections in India, highlighting uncontested wins, multi-cornered fights, and notable candidates.
So far, all those Vice-Presidents who ran for the Presidency, have been successful in reaching Raisina Hill.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday asserted that votes are won on the basis of "politics of service" rather than on "posters and banners".
He refused to acknowledge Pratibha Patil, his rival in the Presidential election, as a Shekhawat
In the letter written Sunday, he accused Shekhawat, other BJP leaders and some 'overambitious leaders' of his own party for being involved in the alleged attempt to bring down his Congress government.
Kanwar said that there should be a thorough probe to trace out who were behind the cross voting as the National Democratic Alliance backed candidate secured 51 votes when the state BJP has 53 MLAs.
In a brief ceremony held at the Chairman's chamber in Parliament House, both members took oath in Hindi.
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