PUNE, Dec 23: Janata Dal leaders are planning to field veteran Marathi film actor Nilu Phule from Pune city for the Lok Sabha election.

The JD sources said the party was seriously contemplating on two names - Rickshaw Panchayat president and senior social worker Dr Baba Adhav and Nilu Phule. Dr Adhav, however, has turned down the proposal as he had disassociated himself from politics long back.

The party leaders are now trying to persuade Phule, who according to them, would prove a formidable challenge for the Congress and the BJP-Sena in Pune.

Senior party leader Prof G P Pradhan and veteran actor Dr Shriram Lagoo have been requested to convince Phule to fight the election. Phule, however, was not available for comments as he was away in Chennai.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.