NEW DELHI, 20 April 2004 — Congress candidate from Lucknow Lok Sabha constituency Akhilesh Das withdrew his nomination yesterday, in the wake of independent candidate Ram Jethmalani’s reiteration that he was very much in the fray and would contest against Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee from the prestigious constituency in Uttar Pradesh.
Earlier yesterday, the noted lawyer and independent candidate Ram Jethmalani said he would fight the Lok Sabha election against Vajpayee. He denied that he ever offered to withdraw in favor of Vajpayee.
Asked whether he was now contesting the election against the prime minister from Lucknow, Jethmalani told reporters at his residence here: “Absolutely. Do you still have any doubts? Swamiji is my witness”, he said referring to Swami Agnivesh.
On the confusion over whether he was contesting the election or not, Jethmalani said: “I had my family circumstances and would have had to stay in London for 4-5 days more for my son. But by God`s grace everything is all right now and I am here”.
However, Congress party spokesman Kapil Sibal, who was present along with Jethmalani said: “Since Jethmalani is in the fray now, we will have to withdraw our candidate.” Yesterday was the last day for withdrawal of candidature for the Lok Sabha poll in Lucknow.
Meanwhile, high-profile election campaigning for the second phase of polls began yesterday, as top politicians started visiting Uttar Pradesh — the state that sends the highest number of MPs to the Lok Sabha.
Vajpayee will address two rallies in Ghazipur and Varanasi today. He will also travel to Khalilabad and Badhalganj.
Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani and Congress President Sonia Gandhi are also set to tour the eastern parts of the state in a day or two.
