Actor Mithun Chakraborty is likely to share the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kolkata on Sunday, according to BJP sources. Sources also said that Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar may also be present at the rally on Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata.
The BJP has planned around a mass gathering of about 10 lakh people in Kolkata on Sunday. Akshay is a close friend of Chakraborty and THE WEEK had earlier reported that Chakraborty, a former TMC MP, was discontent for the last four years since his name appeared in the Ponzi scam. Chakraborty, who has always been very image conscious, had returned all the money he received for appearing in an advertisement for the Rose Valley brand.
A Bollywood heartthrob in the 1980s, Chakraborty is also extremely popular in the state for his memorable movies in Bengali. If he joins the BJP on Sunday, it would be Chakraborty's third major jump—from a Naxal sympathiser to CPI(M), then to TMC and finally with the BJP.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had visited Chakraborty at his Mumbai residence last month and held a marathon meeting with him.
The BJP, however, tried to play down the presence of big screen stars. "It will be all about Modi ji and people of Bengal. Nobody else," said Kailash Vijayvarghava, BJP state-in-charge in Bengal.
He said it would be the biggest ever assembly in the history of Brigade Parade Ground. "It will break all records," said Vijayavhargava. It is to be seen if Chakraborty will be a mere supporter or play an active part in the campaigning for the BJP?
