JAIPUR — Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran Jaswant Singh on Monday filed the nomination papers as an independent candidate for Barmer in Rajasthan, sending the ball in the party's court. The 76-year-old leader, who currently represents Darjeeling in Lok Sabha, is upset because the BJP gave the Barmer election ticket to ex-Congressman Sonaram Chaudhary, who is believed to be in the good books of Raje. Jaswant, born in Barmer's Jasol village, had wanted to contest from his home turf. The Rajput and Muslim communities are rallying behind Jaswant and could upset the BJP's game plan in Barmer. He attacked the party leadership, saying, “BJP has been taken over by elements who have never respected the party's ideology.” On party president Rajnath Singh's remarks that his services would be utilized appropriately, Singh said, “I am not a piece of furniture. The choice of the adjective ‘adjust' itself is indicative of the mentality behind it.” Singh, however, said he would not switch loyalties and join the Congress. “I was born and brought up in BJP and never thought of joining any other party.” There was speculation that some Congress leaders from Delhi were in touch with Jaswant.
