SP's Raj Babbar now joins Congress

Agra, Oct 6: Raj Babbar, the bollywood actor-turned-politician and Samajwadi Party's Lok Sabha MP on Sunday, oct 5 formally joined the Congress party at a massive rally in Agra last evening. A couple of months ago, he had a one-to-one meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

He joined the Congress in the presence of General Secretary and party's in-charge of Uttar Pradesh affairs Digvijay Singh and state Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi. "I have a shortcoming that I don't tolerate anything wrong and do not permit anything illegal. These are the people, who have been with me in the struggle. I'll be with them. I can confidently say that they will all be with you if you will support them in their struggle," said Babbar. The Congress and Samajwadi Party are allies at the Central level and were expected to forge an alliance in Uttar Pradesh ahead of next general elections slated for 2009.

The Samajwadi Party backed the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government after Left parties front withdrew their support over the India-US civil nuclear deal.

Samajwadi Party's timely support helped the Manmohan Singh Government to sail through the floor test in July this year.

ANI