The Congress-Samajwadi Party (SP) spat over film star Sanjay Dutt or his wife Maanyata’s candidature is perhaps just a trailer of what promises to be a blockbuster.
The Congress-Samajwadi Party (SP) spat over film star Sanjay Dutt or his wife Maanyata’s candidature is perhaps just a trailer of what promises to be a blockbuster in Lucknow.
Whether Munna Bhai himself or his better half emerges as the gladiator in the arena of BJP’s Bhishma Pitamah Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the contest in Lucknow is sure to grab eyeballs throughout the country.
The SP has declared that Dutt would be the party’s nominee from Lucknow. But if he is unable to contest because of his Tada case, his wife Maanyata could contest.
It is not clear if Vajpayee will contest. There were rumours Shatrughan Sinha might enter the ring if Vajpayee calls it a day. “We want him to contest. Even a child will tell you he just has to fill his nomination papers to win,” says BJP leader and Vajpayee’s election manager Lalji Tandon.
The SP has tried to counter Vajpayee’s charisma with star power before. Raj Babbar in 1996 and Muzzaffar Ali of Umrao Jaan fame in 1998 challenged him and failed. In recent times, only Congress nominee Karan Singh gave him a decent contest in 1999.
Lucknowites are divided on Sanjay Dutt. “It is strange that the party (SP) which is threatening to withdraw support (to UPA) over terrorism is fielding a person charged under Tada,” says former Lucknow University vice-chancellor Roop Rekha Verma.
“Where are we taking the standards of politics if we have convicts like Sanjay Dutt against Vajpayee,” asks playwright Mudra Rakshas.
The young are star-struck. “Our politics would be cleaner if the young come forward,” says Ashish Agarwal (22), a student. “He (Sanjay) is not a criminal or terrorist... let the people decide,” said Chetna (32), a housewife.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}