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.
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
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.
The former prime minister was assassinated on this day 19 years ago.
Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on Saturday decided to resign in the wake of his defeat in the presidential poll.
A former chief minister of Punjab, Barnala has the ability to carry other parties with him, including Akali Dal from the National Democratic Alliance.
Mahajan was known for his ability to carry with him friends and opponents alike, the tributes said.
Though his party has two ministers in the Congress-led coalition government, Singh was present when Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat filed his nomination in the presidential election.
In a bid to embarrass National Democratic Alliance-backed presidential nominee Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, the Congress on Tuesday sought disqualification of former minister K Natwar Singh, a day after he proposed his name in the election.
The National Democratic Alliance had offered to extend outside support to the United National Progressive Alliance's prime ministerial candidate in 2007, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jaswant Singh has revealed.The NDA had made the offer to the UNPA during the presidential polls last year, the senior BJP leader told mediapersons in New Delhi on Saturday.The former finance minister also warned that the country was "hurtling towards an economic emergency" under the UPA govt.
Rich tributes were offered to Rajiv Gandhi amid singing of hymns at Vir Bhumi, the memorial to the departed leader on the banks of river Yamuna.
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.
The resolution, introduced by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, said the apex court verdict affects the rights of Parliament.
The Rajya Sabha today bid a touching farewell to its members who were retiring after serving their six-year term, including Deputy Chairperson Najma Heptulla and Leader of the Opposition Jaswant Singh
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
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.
In keeping with the general practice, four new tunes, including Gen Nirmal, dedicated to army chief General N C Vij, were added to the event.
Rajya Sabha Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on Wednesday rejected Congress member V Narayanasamy's privilege notice.
Mohammed Hamid Ansari found himself homeless after being sworn-in as vice-president and was taken to Haryana Bhavan, which will serve as a makeshift residence for him for the time being.
Pratibha Patil on Saturday said the victory in the presidential election had bestowed on her a great responsibility and trust to fulfill it.
President-elect Pratibha Patil on Saturday described her win as the "victory of the principles," which the people of the country uphold.
The UNPA's decision clearly reflects no change in its earlier stand of maintaining equal distance from the Congress and the BJP.
Amidst chanting of Vedic hymns, the mortal remains of former prime minister Chandra Shekhar were on Monday consigned to flames with full state honours on the banks of the Yamuna in Delhi.
During that election, the ballot papers were shuffled three or four times during the polling so that the agents of the candidates find it difficult to note down the serial numbers to identify votes cast by members during counting.
After its decision to back Patil evoked allegations of betrayal from BJP, the Sena has gone on the offensive, saying 'nobody need teach us Hindutva'.
Rahul hugged and consoled his sister Poonam as Mahajan's mortal remains went up in flames.
The National Democratic Alliance on Wednesday decided to move Election Commission against Congress for using "undue" influence on voters in the presidential election.
It has said that the Sena has entered into a deal with the Congress over support to UPA-Left Presidential candidate Pratibha Patil.
Thackeray also attacked BJP, accusing it of "bargaining" for Shekhawat by making him contest as an independent and for "mud-slinging" on Pratibha over the cooperative bank issue.
The Third Front on Monday said it will support President A P J Abdul Kalam for a second term as President as he is the "universally accepted" candidate for the high office.
Patil said her meeting with Shekhawat would be a courtesy call.
The prime minister was elected unopposed on May 18 after independent candidate Matang Singh withdrew from the contest.
Certain important decision would be taken in this conclave, Jaya said.
The live telecast of Parliament proceedings will make parliamentarians more responsible and debates more purposeful, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said.
The Mal Mas will last until middle of the next month, while President A P J Abdul Kalam's term expires in July.
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.
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