Leaders sulk over Raj Babbar as UPCC chief

Actor-turned-politician Raj Babbar’s appointment as Uttar Pradesh Congress president has put party workers in the celebration mode but the state leaders have gone into a sulk.

A section of party leaders, who never took Mr Babbar’s candidature seriously and could not look beyond his star value, are upset over his appointment to the coveted post and that too at this crucial juncture when the state is gearing up for Assembly elections.

One such leader who did not wish to be identified said, “Raj Babbar is a casteless face and does not fit into the caste-ridden politics of Uttar Pradesh. We needed someone who could fit into the caste mould.”

Majority of these leaders — some, claimants to the post themselves — are apparently so upset with the development that they have not even issued the customary press release welcoming the appointment.

Another leader, a former union minister, said, “This is an experiment that will not succeed. (Mr) Babbar is not taken seriously by the people and he is only good for campaigning.”

The party workers, on the other hand, are jubilant over the development. Haji Siraj Mehndi, chairman of the UPCC minority cell said that Mr Babbar’s clean image and popularity would boost the morale of party workers.

“He may be a star but is also a man rooted in reality and has no qualms about hitting the streets. Congress workers needed a leader who could lead from the front and not just issue directions from their drawing rooms,” said Mohd Arif, a district leader from Agra .

Former MP Ram Singh said Mr Babbar’s appointment would give a major impetus to the Congress in the upcoming elections. “He is a leader who is not mired in factionalism and has a casteless image, which works in favour of the Congress. His appeal will attract the youth,” he said.

Congress MLA from Banda, Vivek Kumar Singh said that those opposing the appointment of Mr Babbar as UPCC chief, were those who did not wish to see the Congress revival and were apparently comfortable with the status quo situation. “His presence in Uttar Pradesh will mobilize cadres and make a substantial difference to the result. Our rival parties should now stop taking the people for granted”, he said. Meanwhile, talking to this correspondent on phone, Mr Raj Babbar said on Tuesday that his priority would be the revival of the party and he expected all Congress workers to work towards this goal. “I will be working towards just one goal – revival of Congress. I have to justify the trust that the party high command has shown in me”, he said.