New Delhi, Mar 28: Taking exception to Congress proposal of making Ram Jethmalani a joint opposition candidate from Lucknow, Samajwadi Party today labelled the move as a conspiracy against the party. Talking to newspersons Party General Secretary Amar Singh said that the Congress move was no more than a ploy to weaken Samajwadi Party`s candidate from Lucknow.

Congress Party, on Saturday, made a proposal to endorse Ram Jethmalani as joint candidate of the opposition parties to contest against Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Lucknow. The Congress move was perceived by political observers as just another attempt by the party to arrive at some kind of understanding with opposition parties in the state which has the largest number of constituencies and thus holds the key to the 14th Lok Sabha.

The Congress Party has called on opposition parties time and again to come together to forge an alliance against the BJP. But Amar Singh`s statement has poured cold water on Congress` plans of a joint opposition to Vajpayee. Bureau Report