BJP's argument for Shekhawat has no logic: Left

New Delhi, June 27 (UNI) In the ongoing war of words over the Presidential poll, the Left parties today rebutted the BJP's argument against UPA-LEFT candidate Ms Pratibha Patil point by point asserting that the allegations levelled against Mr Bharon Singh Shekhawat were much more serious.

The top leadership of the CPI, CPI(M), RSP and Forward Bloc said the BJP's ''gameplan'' to discredit Ms Patil was not going to succeed since this is the election for the country's highest constitutional post, in which MPs and state legislators participate, and not a panchayat or a local body poll.

BJP stalwarts -- A B Vajpayee and L K Advani -- while asking the ruling alliance to reconsider the candidature of Ms Patil in view of grave allegations against her, have called for a conscience vote in favour of Mr Shekhwat.

Reacting to BJP's statements, CPI general secretary A B Bardhan said, ''These are slanderous statements being advanced by a party which wanted a tainted and chargesheeted top leader as the country's Prime Minster.'' It was an obvious reference to Mr Advani, who had alleged that the Congress president sought to devalue the august office of the President as she had degraded the office of the Prime Minister by hand-picking a person, who he said, exercised no authority of his own.

CPI(M) senior leader Mohammad Salim observed that the BJP had unleashed such a slanderous campaign against Ms Patil because it could not fight politically.

''But it is not going to gain,'' he said.

The propaganda machinery of the RSS and the BJP was working overtime leaving no one in doubt how it creates an atmosphere that benefitted them. However, its campaign would not succeed.

Forward Bloc national secretary G Devrajan remarked that the BJP had begun a political vilification campaign forgetting that the allegations it has levelled against Ms Patil were more applicable to Mr Shekhawat.

''Mr Shekhawat is vulnerable to the Sangh Parivar. His elevation does not auguar well for the country's social and secular edifice.

He is more loyal to the BJP than to the minorities,'' he said.

RSP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Abani Roy said the BJP was out to discredit Ms Patil. ''What else can it do,'' he asked.

Strongly refuting the BJP's allegations, Mr Roy asserted that this was not an election to a panchyat or a local body wherein the provocative campaign of the party could work.

UNI