Lucknow, Mar 03: The Uttar Pradesh unit of congress today appealed to various political parties to field a joint candidate against Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee from his parliamentary constituency of Lucknow in the Lok Sabha elections. Mr Vajpayee has already announced his decision to seek a re-election from his Lucknow constituency is slated to go for polls on May 5 next. Uttar Pradesh Congress President Jagdambika pal told reporters here that like the 1999 elections, the party was hopeful of fielding a 'strong' candidate like Dr Karan Singh. Dr Singh was the first runners-up then. ''I appeal to all political parties to field a joint candidate who could defeat Vajpayee,'' he said adding that if the effort materialised, the joint opposition could avoid a split in secular votes. Bureau Report