Jammu: In a significant development, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today (April 14, 2004) asked Congress-backed Ram Jethmalani to reconsider his decision to contest against him in Lucknow in the coming Lok Sabha polls which he said may be the last election for both as "active participants".

Extending an olive branch to him, Vajpayee also disapproved of the attacks apparently by his party colleagues against Jethmalani, who has filed his nominations from Lucknow.

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In a statement, Vajpayee said he and Jethmalani had been friends and colleagues for 40 years now and had broadly shared political values and goals and were together in the fight for Democracy.

"Ram has filed his nominations to contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections from Lucknow constituency from where I am also seeking re-election. Since this is likely to be the last elections in which we will be active participants, I expect that he will reconsider his decision," he said.