Rita opposes Cong ticket to Lalus kin

Even as Malik had begun his campaign,the party subsequently replaced him with Jitendra Yadav,whose son got married to Lalus daughter on January 28. The move attracted criticism from some leaders of the partys youth wing who went on a token hunger strike outside the Congress headquarters in Delhi to protest against the denial of ticket to Malik.

In a letter to Rahuls close aide Kanishka Singh last week,Joshi is learnt to have requested the leadership to reconsider its decision and renominate Nizam Malik from Sikandrabad.

Underlining that Malik belongs to the Teli Muslim community in western UP,Joshi said this community has sizeable presence in about 21 Assembly segments.

In this context,she pointed out that the SP has given tickets to four members of the Teli Muslim community and the ruling BSP has given tickets to two.

Joshi is learnt to have told Singh that the members of the community are highly agitated by the denial of ticket to Malik and suggested the party should reconsider his candidature afresh.

Sources said Joshis request to Singh came after a delegation of the community petitioned her in Lucknow last week to register their protest against the decision.

Given that Jitendra Yadav,who was member of the SPs state committee till he got the ticket from the Congress,has got ticket due to influence from the top quarters,Joshi is learnt to have suggested that Yadav should be fielded from Noida where he enjoys sizeable support.