Virtually posing a challenge to the projection of L K Advani as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, former Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on Thursday said he was the “senior most” among the saffron leaders and kept his options open on pitching for the top post.

Shekhawat, who has created a flutter within the BJP by declaring that he would contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, also hit out at the party president Rajnath Singh for his remarks that somebody who has held a constitutional post should not enter the electoral fray.

He told reporters that even former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee should contest if his health improves.

“Advaniji may be the PM candidate, but others too can contest Lok Sabha polls. He is not the only one contesting elections,” he told reporters in New Delhi, when asked about his opinion on Advani being the PM-in-waiting.

He said there were several senior leaders in BJP like Advani, Rajnath Singh and Jaswant Singh. “But age-wise I am the senior most,” he said.

Shekhawat said he will contest the Lok Sabha elections if the public demands and his health permits.

On whether the party took a hasty decision in nominating Advani as the Prime Ministerial candidate, he said, “the party is free to take a decision in this regard.”

When queried whether he had congratulated Advani when the latter was nominated as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, he replied in the negative saying, “I did not even know.”

Asked whether he could also be an ideal prime ministerial candidate as he has served as Vice-President, Shekhawat diplomatically quipped, "How can I say this on my own? It is for you all to say...If there is any such law I will take advantage of that."

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