Even as film star and local MP Raj Babbar was mulling his political prospects, his man on Friday, Dr Dharam Pal Singh, the lone Jan Morcha legislator in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, announced the merger of his party with the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party.
Singh represents the Dayalbagh constituency in Agra district. Chances are he could be inducted into the Mayawati ministry shortly.
It is learnt that Singh met Chief Minister Mayawati early on Tuesday and later in the day gave a letter to the speaker of the Vidhan Sabha announcing his merger decision.
When reached on phone, Raj Babbar feigned ignorance about Singh's decision though the two spent the entire Monday together before the latter saw off the film star at the railway station. Babbar expressed surprise over the merger and claimed this was never discussed.
Political observers in Agra feel this could be the beginning of an exodus to the BSP. "This could also be a precursor to Babbar's own entry into the BSP, now that he may have no future in the Samajwadi Party or the Congress," said a Babbar-confidant from Kiroali area here.
Babbar, who had won the Agra Lok Sabha seat on the Samajwadi Party ticket, had quit in 2006 over differences with Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh.
{{/usCountry}}Babbar, who had won the Agra Lok Sabha seat on the Samajwadi Party ticket, had quit in 2006 over differences with Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh.
{{/usCountry}}He was expecting to contest the elections this time on a Congress ticket but the beginning of a new alliance between the two parties has dimmed his chances of getting a ticket, for the SP might not want him to contest from UP given their bitter relations.