Seshan retaliates to BJP jabs

Countering the BJP8217;s charge that he had tarnished the image of a constitutional authority like the Election Commission of India by jumping into the electoral battle, the former CEC sought to know why the BJP had fielded former Comptroller and Auditor General CAG T N Chaturvedi in the 1998 Lok Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh? 8220;Did the BJP not realise then that the party was sending wrong signals to constitutional authorities like the EC in thecountry by fielding the former CAG?8221;

Seshan also ridiculed the BJP8217;s charge that he was contesting the Gandhinagar seat on the Congress ticket as he was 8220;power hungry8221;.

8220;If former bureaucrats like Chaturvedi join the BJP and contest the general election on its lotus symbol, they become holy cows. But, when people like me join the Congress and fight the elections on its ticket, they are dubbed power hungry,8221; retorted the former CEC. He also reminded the BJP that it was their party general secretary, O Rajagopal, who had approached him in the last elections.

Seshan pooh-poohed Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya8217;s demand that he announce a list of 8220;controversial8221; persons who donated to the trust set up by the former CEC.