Jaya Bachchan says no to SP’s RS offer

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Expelled Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh had the last laugh, with Ms Jaya Bachchan springing a surprise by turning down the offer of the SP to renominate her for the Rajya Sabha.

Though Ms Bachchan was consulted by the party before the announcement of her renomination, Mr Singh flew down to Mumbai to meet Mr Amitabh Bachchan after which the flip-flop on her candidature unfolded on Friday.
In an informal chat with reporters on Friday, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav revealed that Ms Bachchan had expressed her inability to contest the Rajya Sabha elections due to “family reasons”. The SP chief later told reporters that the party spokesman, Mr Mohan Singh, would replace Ms Bachchan as the second candidate of the party.
Mr Mohan Singh later told this newspaper that he would file his nomination papers on June 2, while stating that he was not part of the process to choose Ms Bachchan for another term in the Upper House.
It has been learnt that Mr Amar Singh, stung by the decision of the SP to rerenominate Ms Bachchan for the Rajya Sabha, had flown to Mumbai and met her husband, actor Amitabh Bachchan.
“Ms Bachchan this morning informed the party leadership on the phone about her wish to take a break from politics after which a decision to nominate Mohan Singh was taken,” party spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary said.
Ms Bachchan’s refusal is being seen as a major victory of sorts for Mr Amar Singh who was instrumental in bringing her into the SP. He had made his displeasure clear when Ms Bachchan did not quit the party following his expulsion.
Asked if Ms Jaya Bachchan’s husband Amitabh Bachchan had objected to her nomination for the Upper House, the SP chief told reporters: “Amitabh Bachchan has never liked politics. He was elected for the Lok Sabha but after a brief period, he resigned from there.”
Earlier on the day of announcement of the renomination, SP UP chief Akhilesh Yadav, when asked if Ms Bachchan was consulted, had told this newspaper that the party leadership had taken her in confidence before making the decision public.
Ms Bachchan is abroad on a private visit.