Vajpayee targets Jethmalani

In a veiled attack targeting Jethmalani, Vajpayee said in Lucknow there was a 'limit'" to the greed for power.

In a veiled attack targeting Ram Jethmalani, the Congress-backed independent candidate for Lucknow constituency, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Tuesday said there was a 'limit'" to the greed for power.

HT Image

Addressing an election rally in Lucknow, which he has represented in Parliament since 1991, Vajpayee said switching of loyalty for the sake of power did not augur well for the country in the long-run.

"It is not proper to switch loyalties and contest as independents just because one is not considered for the party election ticket," he said.

Vajpayee was apparently referring to Jethmalani, who was earlier nominated to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Parliament, with the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) support.

Jethmalani, who is contesting despite a plea from Vajpayee to withdraw from the race, also served as Law minister in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government.

The Congress is now backing Jethmalani's candidature in Lucknow, which will go to the polls May 5.

Exhorting the electorate to exercise their mind before casting their votes, Vajpayee asked voters to think about how many parties there were in the fray.

"Though we led an alliance of 26 parties in the NDA, we never gave any room for complaints.

"We want the number of parties to come down. The parties should be strong and work for the welfare of the people," he said.

The NDA now comprises only of 15 parties, after several allies deserting it before the polls.

But Vajpayee hastily added: "There is nothing wrong in having many parties."