As the elections continue (in some places) and are scheduled in others, India’s political game is on point with a heavy contest this time around. Much like a yesteryear story – this time too, stars are joining parties.
With the likes of Navjot Singh Sidhu, Hema Malini, and others already in the race – the new array of stars have added to the excitement around the Lok Sabha elections this time around.
To give you a fair idea, here’s a list of celebs who entered the political framework with one party or the other. *plays dramatic Bollywood music*
1. Sunny Deol
Profession – Actor
Affiliation – Joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
2. Jawed Habib
Profession – Franchisee Owner/Hairstylist
Affiliation – Joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
3. Urmila Matondkar
Profession – Actress/Homemaker
Affiliation – Joined the Indian National Congress (INC)
When the BJP added to their arsenal, it was inevitable that the Indian National Congress will do the same to boost their chances of getting anywhere close to a majority in the elections. Urmila Matondkar’s charming welcome to the Congress party was planned and executed by the party president Rahul Gandhi himself. Claiming that her ideology matches with that of the Congress, Urmila also expressed her firm opposition to the growing intolerance in the country.
4. Nusrat Jahan
Profession – Actress
Affiliation – Joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC)
The popular celeb, who predominately works in Bengali Cinema recently joined active politics as she was welcomed as a deserving MP candidate from the Trinamool Congress or TMC. Nusrat filed her nomination for the Basirhat parliamentary constituency, in West Bengal and is seen as one of the probable winners from that particular area. This was another addition to TMC’s celeb-kitty after the previous additions of MPs like Moon Moon Sen and Satabdi Roy.
5. Mimi Chakraborty
Profession – Actress
Affiliation – Joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC)
Along with Nusrat, Mimi Chakraborty was also part of Mamata Banerjee’s plan to win the support of the locals for TMC in the upcoming elections. Though widely criticized for her ‘lack of experience‘, Mimi Chakraborty faces a tough task ahead, representing the ruling party in the tensed Jadavpur constituency in WB. Voting in the Jadavpur Lok Sabha seat will take place in the last and seventh phase on May 19.
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6. Prakash Raj
Profession – Actor
Affiliation – Independent candidate from Bengaluru Central Constituency
Known for his comic/villainous approach to cinema – Prakash Raj – is not new to anyone, making him one of the finest of his kinds in the film industry. Always very vocal about his sentiments and political stand, Prakash finally joined the Indian politics after his dear friend journalist Gauri Lankesh was assassinated in a cold-blooded murder. The #justasking hashtag trended on Twitter courtesy Prakash Raj as he later decided to contest independently from Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency.
7. Shilpa Shinde
Profession – TV Actress
Affiliation – Joined the Indian National Congress (INC)
Everyone’s favourite Bhabhi Ji Ghar Par Hai actress, Shilpa Shinde is adored across many households because of her record appearances in multiple Hindi TV shows. Known more accurately as ‘Angoori Bhabhi’, Shilpa had also won a season of Bigg Boss before entering active politics. A couple of months ago in February 2019, Shilpa pledged her support to the Indian National Congress and joined the party despite being unsure of securing a ticket for the LS elections.
8. Arshi Khan
Profession – TV Actress
Affiliation – Joined the Indian National Congress (INC)
Following Shilpa’s footsteps, Arshi Khan, a participant from Bigg Boss 11 also joined the Indian National Congress as the vice-president from Maharashtra. Though known for quite a troublesome social life, Arshi followed the decision taken by her Bigg Boss 11 inmate Shilpa and was quoted as saying, “Yes I am joining Congress as Vice President of Maharashtra, they have offered me a post that is the reason I said Yes. Also, the party needs youth people who are outspoken.”
9. Poonam Sinha
Profession – Former Actress
Affiliation – Joined the Samajwadi Party (SP)
Acting for years in Bollywood under the screen name Komal, actress Poonam Sinha was also crowned as Miss Young India in 1968.The wife of veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha and mother to actress Sonakshi, Poonam had in the past targeted Rajnath Singh for not doing any development in Lucknow. For the very same reasons and rivalry, she’s contesting against the Home Minister in Lucknow from the Samajwadi Party (SP).
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10. Vijender Singh Beniwal
Profession – Athlete/Boxer
Affiliation – Joined the Indian National Congress (INC)
Vijender Singh Beniwal – the famous Indian boxer who is also the current WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight Champion and WBO Oriental Super Middleweight Champion recently joined the Congress party. Making the most of the opportunity given by the Congress party, Vijender claimed that there’s no Modi-wave in the country and he cannot see anything but truth prevailing in the coming elections. He has been given a ticket from the South Delhi constituency.
11. Gautam Gambhir
Profession – Indian Cricketer
Affiliation – Joined the Bharatiya Janata Party
When one sportsman does something out of the box, another simply cannot stay behind! Though, Gautam Gambhir throughout his cricketing career has excelled as a top-order batsman, for the first time he’s donned a different hat that’s entirely saffron. Gautam Gambhir, the star performer in two finals for India, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party as a key candidate from the vital East Delhi constituency. He replaced Maheish Girri as the BJP candidate from East Delhi setting up a stern battle with Congress’ Arvinder Singh Lovely & AAP’s star candidate Atishi.
The recent years indicate a steep rise in the number of celebrities joining different political parties.
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