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Party will decide: Dutt

Gargi Parsai

— Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

SETBACK: Actor Sanjay Dutt with Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh (left) at a press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday after the Supreme Court verdict.

NEW DELHI: Actor Sanjay Dutt on Tuesday said he did not blame anyone for being debarred from contesting elections, but said that “if someone has opposed, the government has.”

Mr. Dutt, who arrived here from Lucknow late in the evening, declined to comment on whether he would be fine with his wife Manyata replacing him. “It depends on what the party [Samajwadi Party] decides. It is a family matter.”

Mr. Dutt said he would stay in Lucknow and campaign for the party candidate “whoever it is.”

Party general secretary Amar Singh, who was present at the press conference, said he was more disappointed than Mr. Dutt. “He is a SP leader now and will campaign for the party in entire U.P.”

Mr. Singh said Mr. Dutt expressed happiness that the Supreme Court had recognised that he was not a TADA convict, his parents were reputed personalities and that he was loved as an actor.

Amid speculation that the party might field Rajya Sabha member Jaya Bachchan from Lucknow, Mr. Singh said, he “will discuss” with Ms. Bachchan.

Asked whether Ms. Manyata would replace Mr. Dutt as the candidate, he said the matter would be discussed in the party’s parliamentary board.

Atiq Khan reports from Lucknow:

With Mr. Dutt out of the race, names of several potential candidates have started making rounds in the SP circles.

While spokesperson of the party’s State unit Rajendra Chaudhary said the decision on a new candidate would be taken by the party’s central leadership, names of several potential candidates have started making rounds.

Among those who are said to have thrown their hat in the electoral ring is Rajya Sabha member Virendra Bhatia.

A section in the party feels that considering the sizeable presence of Muslim voters in the constituency, “netaji” (party president Mulayam Singh) would prefer giving the ticket to someone from the minority community.

The name of the former Minister, Ashok Bajpai, has been making the rounds.

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