"Secularism alone will give India inner vitality and strength and make the country acceptable internationally," Soz told a press conference here.

"I hope DMK, Samata Party, Tamil Maanila Congress and Samajwadi Party will still rally around the secular cause," he said.

"Most probably, I will contest as an Independent candidate from the same constituency. Congress, CPI and CPM should support me," Soz, whose crucial vote against the confidence motion led to Vajpayee Government's defeat in the Lok Sabha last month, added, "I voted for my conscience."

Soz was in the city at the invitation of the Bombay Aman Committee to release an Urdu translation of the Srikrishna inquiry committee report on the 1992-93 Mumbai riots and March 1993 serial bomb blasts.

He said Congress, CPM, CPI, RJD, SP and BSP should give more tickets to Muslimcandidates, especially Muslim women.

Letters and telegrams from "nation-loving Muslims" across the country congratulating him on voting against the BJP-led government would be compiled in book form soon, Soz said.