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GV & SV People lining streets awaiting arrival of Rajiv Gandhi. (2 SHOTS)
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GV & SVs Gandhi and wife walk in to file nomination paper, sit down, delegates look on, he signs and looks at paper. (10 SHOTS)
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Initials JMS/JRS





Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi formally declared his intention of fighting the Amethi constituency in northern Uttar Pradesh state in the country's forthcoming general election when he filed his nomination papers in the town on November 20. He is set for a tough contest with his brother's widow, Maneka Gandhi, who is his only opponent for the seat. Thousands of candidates across the country were also filing their papers on November 20 for the elections due to be held on December 24. Meanwhile, the opposition is campaigning to wrest power from the ruling Congress (I) Party. Maneka Gandhi broke with Congress (I) four years ago after her husband's death in an air crash. Candidates for the 514 lower house seats have until November 27 to file nomination papers for the election. One opposition party, the Bharatiya Janata (BJP), has accused the Prime Minister of exploiting his mother's assassination for his own political gain. They say hysteria has been whipped up throughout the country over Mrs. Gandhi's death to divert public attention from what the BJP calls the 'government's massive security failure in not preventing the assassination'. After filing his election papers the Prime Minister said that Congress (I) had fulfilled most of the promises in its last election manifesto. Political analysts say that the p\opposition parties must field at least one joint candidate in each constituency if they are to have a chance of defeating Congress (I), which has a commanding lead in the opinion polls.