Actor Govinda joins Shinde Sena, may contest from Mumbai North-West
Veteran Bollywood actor Govinda made his political comeback ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and joined Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in Mumbai. Govinda joined Shiv Sena at Balasaheb Bhavan after meeting the Chief Minister earlier in the day.
Sources told India Today TV that Govinda may contest the contentious North-West Mumbai seat on Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) ticket, challenging Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Amol Kirtikar.
This was Govinda's second meeting with Eknath Shinde in a week. On Wednesday, Shinde camp spokesperson Krishna Hegde met the popular actor at his residence.
NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Jayant Patil took a jibe at Eknath Shinde after latter meeting with Govinda.
"He is not a popular actor. Eknath Shinde should have taken an actor who has popularity. He should have taken a good actor. I think Eknath Shinde does not watch movies. If he would be watching movies, he would know who is a better actor," Patil said.
In the 2004 Lok Sabha election, Govinda contested the Mumbai North Lok Sabha under the Congress banner. He defeated the senior BJP leader, Ram Naik.
However, Govinda later parted ways with the Congress party and politics, deciding not to contest elections in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.
Lok Sabha polls for Maharashtra's 48 seats will be held in five phases between April 19 and May 20 and votes will be counted on June 4.
Seat-sharing has been a point of contention for both Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Eknath Shinde is yet to finalise seat-sharing with BJP and Ajit Pawar-led NCP.
Meanwhile, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena has left both Congress and the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) seething after it announced candidates on 17 Lok Sabha seats.
Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) constituents Congress, Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) have been holding seat-sharing discussions for the 48 constituencies in Maharashtra. Sena (UBT) has said that it would contest 22 seats in the state.
Congress has been demanding three of the six seats in Mumbai – North West, North Central and South Central.
Source: India Today