SP nominee asks Jethmalani to withdraw from fray

SP nominee Madhu Gupta, who is pitted against Vajpayee in Lucknow has appealed to her Congress-backed rival Jethmalani to withdraw from the fray.

Samajwadi Party nominee Madhu Gupta, who is pitted against Prime Minsiter Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Lucknow, on Sunday appealed to her Congress-backed rival Ram Jethmalani to withdraw from the fray to help defeat communal forces.

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"Congress and Jethmalani should take stock of voters' mood and extend their support to the Samajwadi Party in Lucknow as it is better placed and is in direct contest with the BJP," she told reporters in Lucknow.

Rubbishing claims that the minorities were shifting towards the Congress, Gupta said "despite all efforts of the communal forces, the minorities were firmly behind the SP, which has done a lot for their welfare."

"I have personally met 40 to 50 thousand members of the minority community and they are solidly behind the Samajwadi Party," she claimed.