Govinda in Talks with Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena for 2024 Lok Sabha Elections; Swara Bhasker Considered by Congress: Reports
As the election season approaches, political parties are once again seeking the support of film stars to enhance their chances of winning. Recent developments reveal that Eknath Shinde, the chief minister of Maharashtra, is in discussions with actor Govinda to be Shiv Sena’s candidate from the Mumbai North West seat. On the other hand, there are reports that Congress is attempting to woo actress Swara Bhasker to enter the electoral race.
There are conflicting accounts regarding who initiated the talks. Some reports suggest that Eknath Shinde took the first step and met with Govinda approximately five days ago. However, other sources claim that Govinda himself reached out to the chief minister on Friday, March 22, expressing his desire for a party ticket. It is also rumored that the other faction of Shiv Sena, led by Uddhav Thackeray, has chosen Amol Kirtikar as their candidate for the same constituency. Amol’s father, Gajanan Kirtikar, a sitting MP, is affiliated with Shinde Sena and does not wish to contest against his own son. Therefore, Eknath Shinde turned to Govinda as an alternative option.
The news of Govinda’s reentry into politics has caused a buzz both in the political and Bollywood circles. Back in 2004, Govinda made waves by winning from Mumbai North on a Congress ticket, breaking the BJP’s five-term streak. However, he faced criticism for not dedicating enough time to his political career.
In a December 2016 interview with Bombay Times, Govinda expressed his sentiments, saying, “I have no regrets about my film career, but I regret my decision to join politics. I didn’t get any film offers for 10 years. While I was still involved in politics, I had planned to leave, but I completed my term and never looked back.” Last year, a fake tweet attributed to him went viral during a political dispute in Haryana. Govinda promptly clarified, stating, “It has been 18 years since I quit politics, and I won’t use sly tactics on Twitter to make a comeback.”
Meanwhile, Swara Bhasker, known for her acting prowess and activism, is reportedly being considered as one of the candidates by the Congress party for the Mumbai North Central seat. There are also reports suggesting that veteran actor Raj Babbar might be another contender for the Congress ticket in the same constituency.
