Hema becomes RS member

Ayodhya seemed far from the Bharatiya Janata Party's mind at that moment. Cameras clicked as the "dream girl" of Hindi cinema, Hema Malini, walked into the residence of BJP chief M Venkaiah Naidu in her new role as nominated member of the Rajya Sabha.

Malini took the oath today and visited Naidu's residence to display her political allegiance to the BJP.

Naidu played a good host and also threw a small party to celebrate the actress' birthday today. The worries of Ayodhya seemed far from Naidu mind. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leadership's desperate efforts to make their presence felt too was not an immediate concern.

"There should be some leisure for us," he said. "Meeting with eating," he said was the purpose of the get-together.

The idea of hosting a party to felicitate Hema Malini actually came to him when he was informed about her oath-taking and her intention to call on him. That it was her birthday was a bonus.

He immediately requested Jaya Prada, another Hindi film actress and former Rajya Sabha member from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), to come to his place.

Aware of the fact that the BJP would require co-ordination with Malini in the Upper House, BJP's chief whip SS Ahluwalia was also called.

Since the function was hosted by the BJP president, film star-turned-politician and minister of state for external affairs Vinod Khanna and former party MP Nitish "Krishna' Bhardwaj turned up like disciplined workers. Khanna squatted on the floor like a true soldier of the party.

Naidu praised Hema Malini but said her presence must not be taken as her intention to "join the BJP". "This is not a political function," Naidu emphasised.