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Gujral to start campaign on Thursday

The Bahujan Samaj Party has extended its support to Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral's candidature in Jalandhar.

The offer was the result of BSP supremo Kanshi Ram's one-to-one meeting with Gujral in Delhi on Saturday.

The prime minister is scheduled to arrive in Jalandhar for a three-day visit on Wednesday evening. He will file his nomination papers the next day.

Having garnered the support of political parties otherwise inimical to the United Front, Gujral is looked upon as the sure winner there. The Akali Dal (Badal), despite being a part of the ruling Akali-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance in Punjab, has already left the seat vacant for him.

After filing his nomination, Gujral will address a public rally at Sultanpur Lodhi, considered a stronghold of the Akali Dal (Badal), to formally launch his campaign.

Meanwhile, a Special Protection Group team is in the city to review security arrangements. Gujral will arrive from Amritsar after offering prayers at the Golden and Durgiana temples.

On Wednesday evening, the prime minister is scheduled to attend an iftar party at a local Muslim leader's home.

Before returning to Delhi on Friday, he will address a function being held in connection with Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birth centenary.

UNI

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