Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt is all set to re-enter politics after ten years of making his debut as reports have emerged that he will be now joining Rashtriya Samaj Paksh (RSP), a BJP ally in Maharastra.
According to the reports, Sanjay Dutt, who had once joined the Samajwadi Party is set to re-enter politics, according to a minister from Maharashtra. 60-year old Sanjay Dutt is expected to join the Rashtriya Samaj Paksh (RSP) on September 25, said party founder and Cabinet minister in Maharashtra government, Mahadev Jankar on Sunday. The RSP is a junior ally of the ruling BJP in Maharashtra.
Mahadev Jankar said the RSP was tapping the film industry to expand his party. The RSP mainly represents ‘Dhangar’ or the shepherd community.
“We have started working in the film sector as well to expand our party. As part of which, actor Sanjay Dutt is also joining the Rashtriya Samaj Paksh on September 25,” said Jankar, who is the Minister of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development in Maharashtra government.
In the event, a pre-recorded video of the actor greeting the RSP and addressed Jankar as his “brother” was also played.
However, as reported by ANI, Sanjay Dutt will only campaign for the RSP in the upcoming Maharashtra elections. There is no official confirmation from Sanjay Dutt’s side as he has not released any press statement regarding his reentry into electoral politics.
The RSP is a junior ally in the BJP-led NDA since the 2014 Maharashtra Assembly elections. Out of the six candidates, RSP candidate Rahul Kul had won from Daund seat.
Previously, RSP chief Jankar had unsuccessfully contested against NCP chief Sharad Pawar from Madha Lok Sabha constituency in 2009.
In 2009, Sanjay Dutt had joined Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate to contest from the Lucknow Lok Sabha constituency but withdrew after the court refused to suspend his conviction under the Arms Act. However, he was later appointed as the general secretary of the SP but resigned and subsequently quit the party.
Late Sunil Dutt, the father Sanjay Dutt, had represented Mumbai North-West constituency from the Congress party for five terms. He had also served as the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports in the UPA-I government during 2004-May 2005 before his death. Sanjay Dutt’s sister Priya Dutt is a former MP of the Congress from Mumbai.