Vajpayee faces friend-turned foe in polls

After initial uncertainty and flip-flop by Jethmalani, he made it clear on Monday that there was no question of withdrawing from fray following an appeal made by Vajpayee last week.

Vajpayee had in a statement urged his former law minister Jethmalani not to contest against him on the ground that given their age it could be the last time both will be actively taking part in an election.

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Jethmalani had promptly indicated willingness to reconsider his decision to challenge the Prime Minister prompting Congress, which has declared to back the lawyer as an independent candidate, to rush its own candidate Akhilesh Das, a member of Rajya Sabha, upper house of parliament, for filing nomination from Lucknow.

Polling in Lucknow constituency will be held on April 26 in the third phase of parliamentary elections.

Apart from the presence of Jethmalani, who quit Vajpayee cabinet two years back, the BJP is facing some embarrassment in the Prime Minister's constituency following the saree distribution programme organised on April 12 to mark the birthday of senior BJP leader Lalji Tandon in Lucknow where a stampede left 22 women dead.