Actor Arun Govil, who played Lord Ram in the iconic 1987 television show Ramayan, has joined the BJP.
The actor will not contest for the oncoming elections but he campaign for the elections ahead. Through this change, the Bhartiya Janata Party is targeting right-wing supporters in states where elections will be held beginning March 27.
Arun Govil said at his first press conference that there was nothing wrong with saying “Jai Shri Ram,” a slogan heard often at BJP rallies and marches in Bengal, where the party hopes to enter its first government.
During the 2019 general elections, the slogan was used against the Trinamool. The BJP had captured 18 of Bengal’s 42 Lok Sabha seats, making significant inroads in the district.
Govil, 63, has also played the lead in many Hindi, Bhojpuri, Odia, and Telugu films in addition to Ramayan. He’s also had roles as a sidekick. However, he is most known for his appearances in mythological films.
The actor hit the headlines last year after a photo of him watching a Ramayan reboot on national broadcaster Doordarshan went viral.
The multi-phased elections to Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will end on April 29. Counting will be held on May 2.
