NEW DELHI, Mar 28: Bollywood actor Govinda, a mass entertainer of the 1990s, on Thursday made a comeback in politics after a 14-year hiatus joining the ruling Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) in Mumbai. The former Congress Lok Sabha MP joined the Shiv Sena in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Govinda, who gave multiple super hit films in his decades-long career, made a blockbuster entry in electoral politics in 2004. That year, the “Hero No. 1” actor emerged as a “giant killer” when, as the Congress candidate, he defeated BJP stalwart Ram Naik in the Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat.
Eknath Shinde welcomed the 60-year-old actor into his party, saying he was a popular figure in all sections of society. Speaking on the occasion, an emotional Govinda, who started his acting career in the 1980s and whose films were family entertainers, said after his first stint in politics from 2004 to 2009, he never felt he would again come back to the same field.
“I am back (in politics) after a 14-year-long ‘vanvas’ (exile),” he remarked. The veteran actor, whose full name is Govinda Ahuja, said he would work in the art and culture field if given a chance. The actor said development of the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was unbelievable.
Eknath Shinde, who took over as CM in June 2022, said there is positivity and prosperity in Mumbai and pollution levels were also coming down in the metropolis. The Chief Minister maintained the versatile actor has joined his party without any pre-conditions and rejected suggestions that the entry was linked to elections.
“Govinda stands for progress. He is impressed with Modiji’s development policies. He wants to do something for the welfare and progress of the film industry. I am sure he will be the link between the government and the film industry. He has joined us without any conditions,” Eknath Shinde asserted.
“Govinda has ended his vanvas and come to Ram rajya,” noted the Shiv Sena leader, whose party is an ally of the BJP. “My government is pro-development and pro-people, and he was impressed (with its policies),” the Chief Minister said.
Asked whether the actor will be fielded from the Mumbai North-West Lok Sabha seat, Eknath Shinde clarified he hadn’t put any conditions. “He just wants to work for the film industry,” he said, adding Govinda hasn’t joined the party for an election ticket.
(Manas Dasgupta)
