Bollywood actor Urmila Matondkar has officially joined the Congress after a meeting with party chief Rahul Gandhi.
The Congress made the announcement by tweeting a picture of the actor receiving a bouquet from Rahul Gandhi.
Congress President @RahulGandhi welcomes Smt. Urmila Matondkar to the Congress Party. pic.twitter.com/4iZHAy9Nn8
— Congress (@INCIndia) March 27, 2019
The 45-year-old political greenhorn may be offered a seat from Mumbai, most possibly from Mumbai North, for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Matondkar was accompanied to Delhi by Mumbai Congress chief Milind Deora and senior leader Sanjay Nirupam.
Urmila Matondkar joins Congress
“I am here because I believe in the ideology of Congress and what the party stands for. I have not joined the party for the sake of elections,” Urmila told reporters.
“I am here to stay,” she said, adding her entry in the Congress was not about elections.
She also said, “I know when filmstars enter politics, they are expected to pull in voters because of their glamour. I would request you to keep such thoughts away when it comes to me.”
Milind Deora, after being named as Mumbai Congress chief, addressed his first press conference in Delhi and said: “I have known Urmila-ji for years. She is not just one of India’s finest artistes, but someone who is extremely opinionated on issues affecting our society and someone taking the political step for the long run to serve the country through the Congress party.”
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If nominated in Mumbai North, Urmila Matondkar will face BJP lawmaker Gopal Shetty in the constituency that is seen to be a stronghold of the ruling party.
Urmila Matondkar was last seen in a special appearance for Abhinay Deo’s ‘Blackmail’ in 2018.