Actor Shekhar Suman, ex-Congress spokesperson Radhika Khera join BJP

Shekhar Suman and Rahika Khera join BJP amid polling for Phase 3 Lok Sabha elections. It is unclear if either will be contesting elections later

Former Congress spokesperson Radhika Khera and actor Shekhar Suman on Tuesday joined the BJP at the party's headquarters in Delhi, as the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections are held in 93 constituencies. Their induction into the BJP was marked by a ceremony attended by party leader Vinod Tawde.

Suman's BJP membership comes amidst speculation about his political aspirations. "Till yesterday I did not know that I would be sitting here today because many things in life happen knowingly or unknowingly. I have come here with a very positive thinking and I would like to thank God that he ordered me to come here," he said.

 

According to media reports, the actor was waiting for his latest web series 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' to become a hit before entering politics. The actor said that he did not want people to assume that he had joined politics because he had nothing else to do.

He said,  "Log kahi ye na kahe ki mere paas karne ko kuch nahi tha, isliye politics join ki. Heeramandi has now become a global hit."

#WATCH | Delhi: After joining the BJP, actor Shekhar Suman says, "Till yesterday I did not know that I would be sitting here today because many things in life happen knowingly or unknowingly. I have come here with a very positive thinking and I would like to thank God that he… pic.twitter.com/miEayQxKP2

— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2024

‘Heeramandi’ premiered on Netflix. The series is directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and features a star-studded cast. It explores various facets of a woman's trials and tribulations.

Khera quit the Congress party on Sunday. She told ANI that she had complained to senior Congress leaders about disrespectful behaviour in party’s the Chhattisgarh unit. Khera alleged that despite informing senior Congress leaders like Sachin Pilot, Jairam Ramesh, Bhupesh Baghel, and Pawan Khera about the issue, no action was taken.

Khera also took a dig at Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, claiming that despite seeking their time for three years, she was never able to meet them. She mocked Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,' alleging that he would only wave at people for five minutes before retreating to his trailer, without engaging with anyone.

#WATCH | After joining BJP, former Congress leader Radhika Khera says, "The manner in which I was misbehaved with on the land of Kaushalya Mata for being a devotee of Ram, for having darshan of Ram Lalla, I would not have been able to reach here if I had not got the protection of… https://t.co/t2ad9pjMEw pic.twitter.com/2lazrK38ii

— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2024