M A I N   N E W S

Jethmalani withdraws from Lucknow
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 16
Independent candidate Ram Jethmalani, who is away to London for treatment of his elder son Janak, today withdrew from the contest against Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Lucknow for the May 5 polling in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

However, a close family friend of Mr Jethmalani who is in constant touch with the lawyer-politician, told The Tribune that Mr Jethmalani was “very serious” about the coming elections and would “unleash hell against the BJP” as he was very angry with that party.

“I was with him for the past 10 or 12 days. I saw the fire in his eyes. He is damn serious about these elections but is also deeply attached to Janak. I can tell you that the day he comes back to India he would get after the BJP. He would unleash hell against them, irrespective of the results of the General Election,” the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

Mr Jethmalani’s decision was announced through a press note circulated by his office here in which the ace lawyer said he would campaign in support of the Congress candidate in Lucknow, Mr Akhilesh Das.

The statement does not make any reference to Mr Vajpayee’s appeal made in Jammu on April 14 in which the Prime Minister had urged him to reconsider his decision of contesting against him. Mr Jethmalani, however, hoped the promises implicit in the Prime Minister’s statement “are sincere and will be performed”.

The statement circulated by his office here said, “Due to a sudden family problem I had to leave the scene of battle and come away to London. Fortunately the situation is not as serious as it initially appeared and I hope to resume the battle in a few days.

“My withdrawal and the nomination of my friend Akhilesh Das, became inevitable due to the uncertainty that prevailed on the last day of nominations... I will lend full support to Das and other candidates who share my ideology in any part of India,” he said.

Jethmalani leaves Cong red-faced
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 16
Red-faced Congress leaders were left fumbling for answers today when former Law Minister Ram Jethmalani withdrew from the electoral race against the Prime Minister in Lucknow.

Mr Jethmalani’s decision was particularly galling for the Congress, which was supporting his candidature, as it comes a day after Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee issued a public appeal to his “old friend” that he withdraw from the race. What is even more embarrassing is that hours before his departure for London, Mr Jethmalani had repeatedly assured Congress leaders that he was not opting out.

Although they did not say so publicly, Congress leaders did suspect that Mr Jethmalani would eventually give into the emotional pressure brought upon him by the Prime Minister. Not wanting to take any chances, they had asked their sitting Rajya Sabha MP Akhilesh Das to also file his nomination papers from Lucknow. He was to withdraw from the contest if Mr Jethmalani had chosen to fight it out.

The Congress put up a brave face today when confronted with the news about Mr Jethmalani’s official decision. Party spokesperson Anand Sharma maintained the former Law Minister had told them that he had to rush to London for his ailing son’s treatment. “He has cited the same reason for withdrawing from the race,” Mr Sharma said, adding that if there is any other reason for his decision, “we are not privy to it.”

On the other hand, Mr Sharma sought to deflect attention by directing his attack against Mr Vajpayee. A Prime Minister, who is so confident about his victory and who is his party’s mascot, took the unprecedented step of issuing such a public appeal, Mr Sharma said. “What was Mr Vajpayee so scared about,” he asked.

Although Mr Jethmalani might not have succeeded in defeating Mr Vajpayee, his presence in the contest would have given the election an extra edge and a higher profile. As it happens, Mr Vajpayee is now facing fairly inconsequential opponents.