New Delhi, Sep 4: Malayalam superstar Mohanlal may contests 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Thiruvananthapuram as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate against Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. According to a report, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological backbone of the BJP, is keen to field Mohanlal from Thiruvananthapuram.

RSS is working on the ground level and trying to build a 'social activist' profile for Mohanlal, so the actor doesn't get branded as a 'parachute candidate', Deccan Herald reported on Tuesday. Speculations have started doing the rounds that the 58-year-old national film award winner might join the BJP and contest Lok Sabha polls after his meeting with PM Narendra Modi on Janmashtami. Malayalam Actor Mohanlal In Legal Trouble For Spinning Charkha In an Advertisement.

“There is a serious discussion in the Sangh about fielding Mohanlal," a senior BJp leader was quoted as saying. If the BJP fields Mohanlal from Thiruvananthapuram, it would be an exciting contest as Congress leader Shashi Tharoor represents the parliamentary seat. In 2014, cricketer S Sreesanth unsuccessfully contested from Thiruvananthapuram against Tharoor. Dileep-AMMA Controversy: Kamal Haasan Slams Mohanlal for Reinstating the Accused Actor, Asks Males Why are They Quiet.

Mohanlal's meeting with PM Modi, sources told Deccan Herald, was part of an exercise to build a political and social profile for the actor. On Monday, the 58-year-old actor also met Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan before the latter left for the United States for treatment. While the BJP has managed to increase its vote share in Kerala, it is yet to achieve major electoral victory.

The BJP has just one seat in Kerala Assembly, represented by former union minister O Rajagopal. The party has also roped in Malayalam actor Suresh Gopi to make inroads in the southern state.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 04, 2018 03:45 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).