He said he had conveyed to the BJP leadership that "if the public wants and my health permits, I will contest". "There should be no surprise in it (on his contesting). I am free to contest the elections. There is no legal obstacle to it."

Reacting to Rajnath Singh's remarks, Shekhawat said "His comments are quite wrong. He should have consulted me before talking anything about me and about what I said."

On the BJP chief's contention that the former Vice President should not enter politics after holding the Constitutional post, Shekhawat retorted, "I have not jumped into politics. I have been in politics. I have never left politics, whether I am a member of a political party or not. I am not away from politics."

Shekhawat, who served as chief minister of Rajasthan decades ago, was most scathing against BJP leader and former chief minister Vasundhara Raje. He confirmed that he had written a letter to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to probe all charges of corruption -- said to be to the tune of Rs 22,000 crore -- against Raje's government.

He said his return to electoral politics was triggered by increasing corruption in politics and the growing menace of money power.

Expressing concern over allegations of party tickets being sold during the recently held assembly elections in Rajasthan, Shekhawat said that corruption and infighting could harm the party.

"Myself, Atalji and Advanji, all three of us have built the party and would not like to see it disintegrate in front of our eyes," he said.

... contd.