11-15-2006, 07:56 AM
<!--emo&:cool--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/specool.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='specool.gif' /><!--endemo--> Shekhawat hints heâs in race for Presidential election
Shekhar Iyer
On Board Special Aircraft, November 14, 2006
Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat has given broad hints, for the first time, that he is in the race for Presidential election next year.
Speaking to media persons on his way back home after a week-long visit to two Caribbean nations, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, he said he had never been deterred by his age from undertaking any assignment.
Shekhawat was replying to a question on the Presidential election next year after he had described his experience on being on the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, where he spent a day.
"Even at this age of 83, I could go to the top. That was a unique experience."
Next came the question on whether he now aimed at scaling another height (the post of President).
Shekhawat replied, âMy age does not pose a hurdle for any job."
To a question if he went to the gym to keep himself fit, the Vice President said gyms were meant for those who were physically unfit. "See, my schedule has been so hectic in the last four-five days," he said, driving home the point that he was very fit physically for the countryâs top job.
Though the Presidential elections are far away, Shekhawatâs name has been doing the rounds along with other names like Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee in the political circles.
But the parties are not expected to do any serious exercise until early next year. President APJ Abdul Kalam is due to retire in July next year. A lot, of course, depends on the mood of the Congress and the Left and the prevailing political scenario then.
Though belonging to the BJP, Shekhawat has managed to earn all round praise for his conduct of proceedings in the Rajya Sabha (of which he is the Chairman) during the last four years.
In fact, his election as Vice President in August 2002 brought to the fore Shekhawat's rapport with leaders of other political parties.
His 149-vote victory margin over Opposition candidate Sushil Kumar Shinde (presently Power Minister) had taken even BJP members by surprise. He was expected to win by a margin of 110 votes in the best of circumstances.
Shekhawat, who has been Chief Minister of Rajasthan three times, polled 454 of the 766 votes cast by MPs. Shinde got a disappointing 305 votes. Of the 788 MPs - the electoral college comprises members of the Rajya Sabha (245) and the Lok Sabha (543) - 766 cast their votes.
Shekhawat's large victory margin was attributed to his campaign to woo the 'Thakur' members as well as those who did not belong to the NDA.
On his visit to Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, Shekhawat said his tour to these places would send a strong message to all Caribbean nations that India was keen to cooperate with them on various spheres, particularly in petrochemicals, bauxite and IT.
Shekhawat, who inaugurated the India-built cricket stadium in Guyana, said he was overwhelmed by the warm reception by the people who stood along the way from Georgetown airport to his hotel and shouted "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Vandemataram" to welcome him.
He said if the people of Indian origin wanted to trace their roots in India, they could seek the help the government of India. "My tour will boost bilateral ties and send the right message to all the Caribbean nations. It would also boost confidence in the minds of people, a majority of whom are of Indian origin.â
Shekhar Iyer
On Board Special Aircraft, November 14, 2006
Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat has given broad hints, for the first time, that he is in the race for Presidential election next year.
Speaking to media persons on his way back home after a week-long visit to two Caribbean nations, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, he said he had never been deterred by his age from undertaking any assignment.
Shekhawat was replying to a question on the Presidential election next year after he had described his experience on being on the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, where he spent a day.
"Even at this age of 83, I could go to the top. That was a unique experience."
Next came the question on whether he now aimed at scaling another height (the post of President).
Shekhawat replied, âMy age does not pose a hurdle for any job."
To a question if he went to the gym to keep himself fit, the Vice President said gyms were meant for those who were physically unfit. "See, my schedule has been so hectic in the last four-five days," he said, driving home the point that he was very fit physically for the countryâs top job.
Though the Presidential elections are far away, Shekhawatâs name has been doing the rounds along with other names like Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee in the political circles.
But the parties are not expected to do any serious exercise until early next year. President APJ Abdul Kalam is due to retire in July next year. A lot, of course, depends on the mood of the Congress and the Left and the prevailing political scenario then.
Though belonging to the BJP, Shekhawat has managed to earn all round praise for his conduct of proceedings in the Rajya Sabha (of which he is the Chairman) during the last four years.
In fact, his election as Vice President in August 2002 brought to the fore Shekhawat's rapport with leaders of other political parties.
His 149-vote victory margin over Opposition candidate Sushil Kumar Shinde (presently Power Minister) had taken even BJP members by surprise. He was expected to win by a margin of 110 votes in the best of circumstances.
Shekhawat, who has been Chief Minister of Rajasthan three times, polled 454 of the 766 votes cast by MPs. Shinde got a disappointing 305 votes. Of the 788 MPs - the electoral college comprises members of the Rajya Sabha (245) and the Lok Sabha (543) - 766 cast their votes.
Shekhawat's large victory margin was attributed to his campaign to woo the 'Thakur' members as well as those who did not belong to the NDA.
On his visit to Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, Shekhawat said his tour to these places would send a strong message to all Caribbean nations that India was keen to cooperate with them on various spheres, particularly in petrochemicals, bauxite and IT.
Shekhawat, who inaugurated the India-built cricket stadium in Guyana, said he was overwhelmed by the warm reception by the people who stood along the way from Georgetown airport to his hotel and shouted "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Vandemataram" to welcome him.
He said if the people of Indian origin wanted to trace their roots in India, they could seek the help the government of India. "My tour will boost bilateral ties and send the right message to all the Caribbean nations. It would also boost confidence in the minds of people, a majority of whom are of Indian origin.â