Lucknow: Congress-backed independent candidate Ram Jethmalani, who takes on Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Lucknow Lok Sabha constituency, today (Apr 23, 2004) alleged a majority of independent candidates in the fray in Lucknow were Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) "dummy" and sought the Election Commission's intervention in the matter.

A majority of the 19 independents (barring him) are BJP's "dummy candidates" and "it is aimed at filling the polling booths with BJP workers on the polling day," Jethmalani told a news conference.

Elections 2004-The Drama unfolds...
Political Parties in India

"It also shows that there can be attempt of booth capturing," he said.

Expressing hope that the EC would pay attention to his apprehensions, Jethmalani said the city has been reeling under power shortage and such power failures could disrupt polling process on the electronic voting machines (EVMs).

Jethmalani also released to the media the second instalment of his 10 questions posed to Vajpayee.

Pointing out that he had earlier asked 10 questions from Vajpayee after senior BJP leader Lalji Tandon used "unparliamentary language" about him, the noted lawyer said the chapter was closed after the Prime Minister expressed anguish over the saree tragedy.

Jethmalani said he had met Vajpayee on March 8 at the latter's residence and asked him to instruct the Union Law Ministry to consent to the transfer of the Gujarat massacre cases out of Gujarat to assure the minorities that justice would be done.

Jethmalani said he had also asked Vajpayee not to enter into an alliance with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa against whom corruption case was pending in a Karnataka court.

He said he had asked Vajpayee to dissolve the Tehelka commission, which is intended only to harass "brave" journalists who caught on the camera the then BJP president Bangaru Laxman accepting cash.

He said when he failed to get any reply from the Prime Minister he decided to contest against him (Vajpayee) in Lucknow.

Jethmalani said it was ironical that Vajpayee gave a clean chit to Tandon in the stampede tragedy who he alleged was prima facie guilty of culpable homicide or at least causing death by a "rash and criminal act".

He charged the Prime Minister's announcement on compensation to the kins of the stampede victims from the Prime Minister's relief fund and the party fund amounted to electoral bribery.

Jethmalani said he would do everything possible to socially, politically and legally help the kins of the stampede victims and ensure that the guilty were brought to book.

To a question, he denied that he was not getting support from the Congress.