Expelled SP MLAs swear by Amar

Sandeep Agarwal,the MLA from Moradabad,said the party was free to take any action against him,but he will remain with Amar Singh. “There is a coterie around Mulayam Singh Yadav which is calling the shots in the party and is out to destroy the party. This coterie is behind the suspension of MLAs and expulsion of Amar Singh and Jayaprada,” said Sandeep Agarwal. “So far,I have had no official communication about my suspension from the party. I will reply once I get a notice from the party,” he added.

Chandel,MLA from Hamirpur,said the SP was in the grip of family rule and none in the party was willing to listen to the grievances of

party workers. “Suffocated by the family rule,we had no choice but to explore other options. I am with Amar Singh,” said Chandel who came to the SP from the BSP and was elected to the Lok Sabha from Hamirpur seat in 1998 as a BSP candidate. The two other MLAs,Madan Chauhan and Sarvesh Kumar Singh,also said they would abide by Amar Singh’s directions.

Meanwhile,former leader of Opposition in the state and expelled SP leader Azam Khan welcomed the expulsion of Amar Singh and Jayaprada from the party. “This was destined to happen. Both are non-political persons — one is a businessman while the other is a film actress. Both had attacked the party leadership and criticised Ram Gopal Yadav. So they were bound to be kicked out of the party,” said Azam Khan.

On his possible return to the SP,Azam Khan said,“So far,there is no invitation from the Samajwadi Party or any communication from any leader of the party. I will do what my community tells me to do.”