Mohan Babu expelled from TDP

First, he is expelled. Next thing you know, he alleges wholesale corruption within the ranks.

Sounds like another chapter from the Indian cricket files -- but we are referring to Mohan Babu, film star and Rajya Sabha member, whose expulsion from the Telugu Desam Party on Tuesday evening sees him coming out of his corner, both fists up and spoiling for a fight.

Arguing that wholesale corruption within the TDP ranks existed, that party boss and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's name led the list, Babu says he won't rest till he exposes the corrupt.

First unwritten law of Indian politics: A politician expelled from his party will inevitably fight against corruption within the ranks of the party concerned.

Babu, meanwhile, told the media that it was his unrelenting crusade against corruption that had led to his expulsion in the first place. And added that his expulsion was a clear warning to others in the TDP that any attempts to raise the issue of corruption would meet with a fate similar to his.

Second unwritten law of Indian politics: No politician is ever expelled for what he did -- it is always for what others did, that he didn't like.

For the record, the official word from the TDP is that Babu was expelled for "undermining the party's prestige and damaging its interests".

Referring to the reopening of a police case that was pending against him, Babu said he always respected the rule of law, and was prepared to let the law take its own course.

Third unwritten law of Indian politics: Politicians with police cases pending against them always respect the law.

Shedding flippancy for the moment, we hit the high spots of Babu's media briefing. Which runs thusly:

Item: Mohan Babu proposes, shortly, to move the Supreme Court to claim the Telugu Desam flag and symbol, which he claimed belongs to him rather than to those who "defected from the Congress, and backstabbed (party founder) N T Rama Rao".

Item: Mohan Babu will not seek the support of NTR's widow and TDP-NTR party boss Lakshmi Sivaparvati. However, he will welcome support from all quarters -- including the aforementioned.

Item: Mohan Babu will shortly publish a full listing of his own personal assets, to rebut the charge that he himself is corrupt. At the same time, he will begin accumulating evidence on the corruption of TDP leaders.

Item: Babu will launch a special platform to crusade against corruption from. As to whether said platform will take the shape of yet another political party with the magic letters 'TDP' prefixed, or suffixed, to it, time will tell. Meanwhile, it is worth recalling here that on October 2, Babu had upped the political stakes in the state with a dramatic fast against what he termed "hi-tech political corruption".

Meanwhile, asked about the TDP's demand that he resign his Rajya Sabha seat -- on the principle that it was the party that put him there, and he no longer belongs to the party -- Babu shot back, ''let all those MLAs who had won on the basis of NTR's photos resign first. Then I too will resign''.

Which brings us to the last and most important of the unwritten laws of Indian politics: Any member of the legislature or Parliament is always ready to resign his post -- provided everyone else resigns first.

EARLIER REPORTS:
Film star Mohan Babu to be expelled from TDP
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Mohan Babu let off with 'warning'