Vajpayee to address BJP rally at Lucknow

New Delhi, Apr 21: Ending speculation about his ''dissatisfaction and anger'' against the BJP's selection of nominees for the Uttar Pradesh polls, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has agreed to address a party rally in Lucknow on April 25. BJP Vice President and party's Election Cell Chief Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said Mr Vajpayee had agreed to speak at the rally in his home constituency of Lucknow.

The former Prime Minister had been conspicuous by his absence during campaigning for the first four phases of seven-phased elections while several other top leaders including Mr L K Advani, BJP President Rajnath Singh and senior leaders Murli Manohar Joshi and Venkaiah Naidu have all addressed rallies.

Mr Vajpayee was slated to address rallies in the first phase itself but had not done so. On the one hand, his absence had sparked off controversy that he was disstisfied with the selection process of the party candidates while on the other, the party has been maintaining that his health did not permit him to travel extensively.

UNI