Raj Babbar refuses to contest Lok Sabha polls from Moradabad

Actor-turned-politician and Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) president Raj Babbar has refused to contest Lok Sabha Elections from Moradabad parliamentary constituency. According to reports, he has expressed his willingness to contest from Fatehpur Sikri Lok Sabha seat. 

The development comes almost a weak after the grand old party announced his name in its second list for the general elections. 

Raj Babbar had contested from Ghaziabad in the last Lok Sabha elections against General (retired) VK Singh. In 2014, Singh created history by winning the seat with a margin of 5.67 lakh votes. 

Congress’s decision to field Babbar from Moradabad was even questioned by the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM). According to a report in Zee News, AIMMM president Navaid Hamid asked why did the party field Babbar from Muradabad when any Muslim candidate could have easily won from the seat.

Babbar started his political journey by joining Janata Dal in 1989, which was led by VP Singh. He later joined Samajwadi Party and was elected as Member of Parliament of India three times. He was a member of Rajya Sabha from 1994 to 1999. Babbar was re-elected in the 14th Lok Sabha elections for his second term in 2004. He was suspended from Samajwadi Party in 2006. 

A few years later, he joined the Congress party in 2008 and was elected for his fourth term as Member of Parliament in 2009. Babbar had won against Dimple Yadav, the wife of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav in the by-election to the Firozabad seat in 2009.

The Congress appointed him as the president of Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC).