Shekhawat is the best: Atal

FORMER PRIME Minister A.B. Vajpayee wrapped up the two-day BJP conclave, setting the tone for the BJP's battle for Bhairon Singh Shekhawat against UPA nominee Pratibha Patil.

Calling it an important battle to preserve the sanctity of the highest constitutional offices, he wanted the Congress to explain why it did not try for consensus. "The Congress talked to me about consensus after announcing the UPA nominee. Consensus cannot be sought after you have announced the candidate," he said.

Describing the NDA-backed candidate as the best choice for the post, Vajpayee said the BJP's decision to oppose Patil was to protest against the Congress' attitude to have "loyalists" in important constitutional offices.

Vajpayee demanded that central ministers Sharad Pawar, Lalu Prasad Yaday and ER. Dasmunsi apologise to President A.EJ Abdul Kalam for criticising him (for his statement on considering a second term if there was certainty). Recalling the excesses of the Emergency, Vajpayee said the seeds of the authoritarian regime that came into being in 1975 was sown in 1969 when Indira Gandhi went for a loyalist, MV Giri, to oppose official Congress nominee N. Sajeeva Reddy Subsequent events between 1969 and 1974 led to the Emergency he said.

Vajpayee criticised the Left for opposing Shivraj Patil's candidature on the grounds that,asLokSabhaSpeakel:hehadbeensoft on the BJP. "Does the ruling combine really want such a Speaker who is intolerant of the Opposition? Can such a person handle the House?"

L.K. Advani asked the UPA to reconsider the decision to field Patil to avoid a "tainted occupant" in Rashtrapati Bhavan. "Never in the past six decades has a candidate for the election to the highest constitutional of- fice faced such grave allegations", he said He said the BJP and NDA had repeatedly sought action against "tainted ministers" in the UPA government. "But what if Rashtrapati Bhavan itself gets a tainted occupant? This is a question the entire nation must seriously pondet:" he said, adding that whatever adverse said about Patil "antidates" her choice as presidential nominee.