Dutt for Lucknow Lok Sabha race?

Filmstar Sanjay Dutt is likely to be nominated as the joint Congress Samajwadi candidate for the Lucknow Lok Sabha seat. The sitting MP is former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, who is unlikely to contest, and the BJP is yet to name its candidate.

The actor appeared at Etawah’s Sefai Mahotsav on Monday, when he was warmly welcomed by SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and general secretary Amar Singh. The festival is organised every year by Mr Yadav’s family, and Mr Singh ensures the presence of top filmstars. This year, however, Mr Dutt, clad in a politician’s trademark khadikurta, was the only mega star present. He said Mr Yadav and Mr Singh were “like family” to him.

Congress sources said while the party didn’t want to give him a ticket due to pending cases against him, it was ready to support him as a joint candidate because of his family’s longtime party ties. Both parties feel his charisma and star power would help wrest the seat from the BJP.

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