Kaun Banega Rashtrapati? Modi wants Amitabh Bachchan, says Amar Singh

The claim has been made by Singh, a former Samajwadi Party leader, in an interview to Zee Group's channel

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is considering proposing Bollywood veteran Amitabh Bachchan’s name for the next President of India, Zee News’ India 24X7 (Essel Group’s channel) reported on Thursday. The current President, Pranab Mukherjee, completes his term next year. 

Amar Singh, ex-leader of Samajwadi Party and a former close aide of the Bachchan family, told the news channel that he had received information regarding the same.

He further added that it was him who had introduced Bachchan to Modi. "I was the one who introduced Amitabh Bachchan to Narendra Modi (when he was the chief minister of Gujarat) in connection with 'Paa' movie. After Modi-Bachchan's meeting, Modi had asked Bachchan to become brand ambassdoor of Gujarat.”

Interestingly, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shatrughan Sinha had earlier this month made the same pitch as well. 

“It will be a matter of pride if Amitabh Bachchan, a cultural icon, is made President of the country. He has achieved many a milestone in cultural and social fields and if he becomes president, it will fetch a good name for the country," Sinha had said. 

Tryst with politics

Bachchan had in 1984 forayed into politics when he contested for a Lok Sabha seat from Allahabad constituency.  He had won by 68.2% votes. He did it in support of then Prime Minister, and his friend, Rajiv Gandhi. 

But, his stint was cut short after he resigned as his name surfaced in the Bofors scandal. Later in 1989, Gandhi lost the elections on the back of several scandals, including Bofors.  However, 25 years later, the Swedish whistle-blower, who had passed on information about the scandal to journalist Chitra Subramanian, revealed that Bachchan was falsely implicated in the scam.  The Swedish official added that Indian authorities had planted the ‘Bachchan angle’.

The actor, however maintains, that he quit politics as people questioned his ‘harmless social service’. "In those two years that I spent in the Parliament I realised that the system on its own would never be able to take care of those that suffer. So with limited means, I began my own individual charity. But politics soon took over and attacks on its veracity and intent were made questionable. Hurt and disgusted with the attitude of those that opposed this harmless social service, I gave it up and stopped," he wrote in a blog. 

The actor has maintained his stance of never going back to active politics. “I am not in politics and not going there again,” he told Hindustan Times in this interview. 

Close enough
 

However, he has been associated with the field in some way or the other. The Bachchan family was also known to be close to Amar Singh. His wife, Jaya Bachchan, is a member of the Rajya Sabha and represents Samajwadi Party. 

Meanwhile, Bachchan is now face of Incredible India campaign. Apart from being the face of many other government programs, he is also the brand ambassador of Gujarat tourism. Interestingly, both the appointments have happened under the rule of Modi.