Ajitabh Bachchan campaigns for Cong-backed candidate

Appearing at a press conference called by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) general secretary D P Tripathi today,Bachchan said: “I am here to support Shree because I have known the Wadhawan family for the last 25 to 30 years.” He said he and “Ravi bhaiya” have been meeting regularly in Mumbai and Delhi.

However,he conceded that his visits to Allahabad have been far less. The association of Bachchans with Allahabad has been rather lukewarm after Amitabh Bachchan quit politics.

To a query on whether he too planned to do something more for Allahabad,Bachchan said: “If Shree wins and Ravi bhaiyya asks me to,I am ready to do more for Allahabad. I too was born here and studied here.”

Bachchan refused to comment on whether his support for a Congress-supported candidate was a step towards normalising relations of Bachchans with the Nehru-Gandhi family. “I am here only personal reasons. For political questions,please ask Tripathi,” he said.

While requesting mediapersons not to put political questions to Bachchan,Tripathi said: “Now that you have asked the question,the fact is that he (Ajitabh) has always respected and has been courteous towards Nehru-Gandhi family.”

“Our candidate Neerja Singh is no longer in the race. She cannot officially withdraw nomination but she is not contesting and the entire party unit is here backing Shree,” Tripathi added. Actor Shakti Kapoor is also scheduled to visit the city on Sunday to campaign for Shree.