On a day Home Minister Rajnath Singh filed his nomination from Lucknow Lok Sabha constituency, the Opposition has roped in yesteryear bollywood actor Poonam Sinha to contest against him.

Sinha, wife of former minister Shatrughan Sinha, formally joined the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Lucknow on Tuesday.

Shatrughan Sinha, who was with the BJP, joined the Congress recently.

He will fight Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad at the Patna Sahib constituency in Bihar, which he represented.

“Poonam Sinha has joined the SP in the presence of SP leader Dimple Yadav in Lucknow,” the SP announced on Twitter. She received membership from Dimple Yadav, sitting MP from Kannauj.

The SP had reached out the Congress for supporting Sinha. The Congress, however, has decided to field Acharya Pramod Krishnan from the seat.

When asked about her candidature from Lucknow, Poonam Sinha said: “I will tell you tomorrow.” On being asked whether she would be contesting against Singh, she said, “It does not matter. I will fight strongly.” She is likely to file nomination on April 18. The election in Lucknow is scheduled on May 6

Rajnath Singh files papers

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh filed his nomination papers after holding a roadshow in Lucknow, where BJP supporters turned up in large numbers and showered flower petals on him.

Accompanied by Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey, Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma and former Union Minister Kalraj Mishra, Singh submitted his election affidavit to Lucknow District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma.

Earlier in the day, Singh took out a roadshow which passed through Hazratganj, one of the arterial roads in the capital city, where BJP workers turned up to show their support to the leader.

Eyeing a second term

Seeking a second term in the Lok Sabha from Lucknow, Singh, who was accompanied by senior BJP leaders in a special vehicle, stopped to offer prayers at the Dakshinmukhi Hanuman temple in Hazratganj, before the procession moved on.

The Home Minister also offered prayers at the famous Hanuman Setu temple here before embarking on the roadshow.

Addressing the party workers at the State BJP headquarters here, Singh said, “India has surged ahead under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the entire world has acknowledged the fact that Modi has done wonders to help the country attain great heights.”

‘Modi for PM again’

“I have toured 10 States and the attraction towards Modi is amazing. The entire country wants to see him re-elected as the Prime Minister,” he added.

Related Topics