People's hero turns into party's villain

Vijay Upadhyay
Agra. Controversy over three-time Samajwadi Party MP Raj Babbar's open accusations against SP supremo Mulayam Singh's "near and dear" Amar Singh appears nowhere near dying down with Agra's "hero" now being labelled as a "villain" by the party rank and file.
Although Mr Babbar enjoys popular support among party workers and local leaders in Agra, the SP supremo's strong stance against him is now alienating the actor-turned-politician from his own party. Party leaders who would otherwise hover around Mr Babbar are now unwilling to speak on the issue, fearing party action.

However, despite the Samajwadi Party hitting out at Mr Babbar hard for his alleged indiscipline, the people of Agra are coming out in favour of their "celebrity" MP, attributing developmental plans in Agra worth millions to Mr Babbar. Ashok Goyal, chairman of the Kshetra Bajaja Committee, a local NGO says the people of Agra would not have voted for the Samajwadi Party and Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, had it not been for Mr Babbar's face which wrenched the Agra seat from the BJP. It is felt that even if Mr Babbar is forced to quit his party, people shall vote for him even if he contests the elections as an independent candidate.

The Sikh community is also firmly behind Mr Babbar. Ravindra Pal Singh Timma, vice-president (UP), Guru-Sikh Welfare Association, says Mr Babbar had joined the Samajwadi Party because he was influenced by Dr Ram Manohar Lohia's ideology; now that the party has abandoned that ideology, it has become imperative for Mr Babbar to try and bring the party back on line. He said removing Mr Babbar is not a democratic way to handle opposition and that Mr Mulayam Singh should have dealt with this matter in an unbiased manner.
However, with all senior party leaders including, the UP Chief Minister downwards, having unanimously "voted" Mr Babbar out from the party for his indiscipline, it is only a matter of days before he is asked to tender his resignation from the party.
Earlier, addressing a party rally on Sunday in Mainpuri, Mr Mulayam Singh said Babbar was playing into the hands of the Congress; he also charged that Mr Babbar had never truly participated in party activities which included party parliamentary board meetings.

He said the party needs Mr Amar Singh more as he works for the party's growth; Mr Babbar, on the other hand is dispensable as he is weakening the party instead of adding strength to it. The Chief Minister said while the party sent Mr Babbar to the Parliament thrice, once as Rajya Sabha Member and twice as Lok Sabha MP from Agra, Mr Babbar cannot claim to have made of any contribution to the party.

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