Jaswant Singh to contest as independent?

He is hurt but not retired...he is charged with emotions and right now appears firm on his decision.

"Yes I am filing my nomination papers tomorrow (on Monday) from Barmer. Independent or not, will depend on the party's attitude," he said on Sunday, when asked about denial of a ticket from his home constituency.

Senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh started his road show from Jodhpur and arrived at his political turf Barmer on Sunday. But before leaving for Barmer, he met people at his farm house in Jodhpur. He clarified that he has not yet resigned from the BJP and will decide on it once he gets to talk with his supporters.

As his caravan was entering Barmer, thousands of supporters greeted him with slogans and garlands. Chants of "Jaswant tum sangharsh karo hum tumhare saath hain..." reverberated the area as a few enthusiastic supporters chanting "Sona Ram wapas jaao."

JD(U) general secretary Chandra Raj Singhvi and BJP leader Rajendra Gehlot met him at Jodhpur and discussed the future perspective.

Singh said the party has failed to live upto the principles and now is encouraging outsiders who once were abusing the party from various forums.

"I have proved myself in various situations and surely will do the same this time too," Jaswant Singh added.

Meanwhile, his son and BJP MLA from Sheo Manvendra Singh too joined the campaign to support his father.

Sources say he is personally sending messages to gain support for his father. Also, Manvendra seems to have been addressing his anger by not attending a meet organised by the MLAs of the region in Jaipur on Sunday.

He has submitted his leave application for a month citing health issues.

According to the information on Monday, Singh will file his nomination as an independent candidate from Barmer. The 76-year-old leader, who currently represents Darjeeling in Lok Sabha, is upset over the Barmer seat being given to recent entrant from Congress Sonaram Chaudhary.

Singh while talking to mediapersons claimed that nobody in the BJP had tried to reach him ever since he set the 48-hour deadline for quitting the party. "The party knows my number and has all possible means to reach me, but no one tried to do that," he added.

On BJP chief Rajnath Singh's remarks that his services will be utilised appropriately, he said, "I am not a piece of furniture. The choice of the adjective 'adjust' itself is indicative of the mentality. You cannot adjust with principles and it is insulting."

Slamming the BJP president's remarks that the party will compensate him after the elections, Singh said, "I reject the thought and I reject the mentality behind it. Assumption is that they shall form the government and offer me some throttle. They can keep it for themselves". He said the "thoughts behind these chain of words are full of arrogance and disrespect."