Bhairon Singh Shekhawat has appealed to the voters of Rajasthan to vote for the BJP and help Lal Krishna Advani become prime minister.
Veteran BJP leader and former vice-president of India Bhairon Singh Shekhawat has appealed to the voters of Rajasthan to vote for the BJP and help Lal Krishna Advani become prime minister. The development is significant since Shekhawat was at loggerheads with the party till recently.
“Only a BJP-led government with Advani as prime minister can safeguard the nation’s interests,” Shekhawat said on Saturday, calling Advani a “determined leader”. Earlier in the day, Advani had visited Shekhawat at a Delhi hospital where the former vice-president is recuperating from illness. The visit seems to have prompted Shekhawat to mellow down, although later he told DNA over the phone that Advani had only made a “courtesy call” and not requested him to back his (Advani’s) candidature. “He does not have to make any request to me. I am a BJP worker and will do what is best in the party’s interest,” Shekhawat, who only a few months ago had announced he would contest the Lok Sabha polls as an independent, said.
“The past is a closed chapter. Shekhawatji has come back,” said a BJP leader in Delhi. The party seems to have recognised that Shekhawat, who was ignored during the Rajasthan assembly polls, will be as asset when it comes to forging a saffron-led coalition at the Centre. The BJP veteran has friends across the political spectrum, from NCP chief Sharad Pawar to Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, and can be valuable in winning them over for the BJP. Of greater importance is his stature among the Rajputs of Rajasthan, his support for Advani and the party translating into Rajput votes.
Appealing to the voters of Rajasthan, Shekhawat said: “The aam aadmi’s life has become miserable as terrorism has killed innocent people across the country including Jaipur. Rajasthan is a border state and all of us know the disturbing developments taking place across the border. At this critical juncture, India needs a strong and stable government headed by a determined leader.”
On how Advani becoming prime minister will help Rajasthan, Shekhawat said: “We are helping a leader who is a Rajasthani at heart. I assure you that the BJP-led government will fully protect the interests of our state without any consideration for who (the Congress) is ruling in Jaipur... Advani made Rajasthan his karmabhoomi after he came to India in 1947.”
On Advani calling on Shekhawat, BJP national general secretary Anant Kumar said at a press conference: “Shekhawat is a widely accepted leader in Rajasthan. If he appeals to the voters to vote for the BJP, the party should welcome the move.”
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