Son invokes Smita’s name for Raj Babbar’s win
Prateek Babbar is a green horn in politics and also does not know Hindi well, but he has a distinct advantage, which he is using to the hilt in the forthcoming bypoll to the Ferozabad LS seat from where his father Raj Babbar is the Congress nominee.
Prateek, a film actor himself, is the son of famous film actress Smita Patil, whom people still remember for films like Akhir Kyon and Sparsh in which she worked with Naseeruddin Shah.
By seeking votes for his father, who had an estranged relationship with the late Smita Patil, Prateek has also set at rest rumours that he seeks to change his surname to Patil.
A novice in politics, Prateek has been touring the dusty and cramped lanes of Ferozabad town with a group of friends comprising young boys and girls from Mumbai, and seeking votes for his father in the name of his mother.
Since he does not know Hindi well, he is keeping himself and his group confined to Ferozabad and campaigning mainly in the degree colleges and shopping malls in a bid to establish a rapport with the urban youth. “Prateek is appealing to the youth of the city to cast their votes in favour of his father,” Liyaquat Ali, a local scribe, told Deccan Herald from Ferozabad.
“I feel that it is my duty to campaign for my father,” said Prateek, who had not campaigned when Raj Babbar had contested from Fatehpur Sikri in the recent general elections.
Ali says Prateek resembles his mother Smita Patil to a great extent.
“It has come as an advantage for him as it enables him to establish rapport with older people,” he adds.
Prateek’s aunt Manya Patil clarified that Prateek was not campaigning for his dad to prove anything to the world. He is simply doing it because he wants to and because he feels it is the right thing to do.
Smita Patil, who came from a family of politicians herself, used to campaign for Congress leaders Murli Deora and the late Sunil Dutt.
