The Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) chief Kripa Shankar Singh said, "We will be more than happy to welcome Shah Rukh Khan as a candidate in the next Lok Sabha elections." Apart from the star appeal, the MRCC feels that he will strike a positive note among Gen-next voters.
However, a close aide of Khan refused to comment on the subject. As of now, the MRCC is looking for a suitable replacement for MP Govinda, represents the Mumbai North Lok Sabha constituency.
The party has already decided against fielding Govinda for the second term. The last couple of years saw the local Congress members in Mumbai north campaigning against the sitting MP for ignoring the people and party workers.
The five-term MP and former union petroleum minister Ram Naik is striving to get the Lok Sabha ticket from Mumbai North which is his forte. In 2004, Naik lost because of Govinda's star appeal. Added to that, the intense infighting within the BJP saw a section work against Naik to ensure his defeat. However, the last five years have seen political equations alter within the state BJP unit.
Senior Congress leaders said, "Getting Khan as the candidate will send a strong appeal among the minorities as he is a moderate, generation-next urban face... across the country."
Congress leaders pointed out that Shah Rukh Khan also shared a cordial relationship with party president Sonia Gandhi's family. He personally knows Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadera.
Anupamaa
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