2019 elections: BJP to pitch Malayalam superstar Mohanlal against Shashi Tharoor in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram?

“He has assured all support and offered to participate in the Global Malayalee Round table that can formulate futuristic solutions for a New Kerala. Hon. PMO India has also appreciated our vision to set up a Cancer Care Centre to cater to the needs of the under-privileged,” his cocmpanying tweet read.

Picture taken from Mohanlal's Twitter account.

Kochi: Malayalam superstar Mohanlal may be pitched against Congress MP Shashi Tharoor by the BJP in 2019 Lok Sabha elections, a media report said on Tuesday. Republic news website quoting its sources said the BJP is keen in offering an election ticket for the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat in Kerala to the actor. However, showing his reluctance, the actor in an interview to a magazine two years ago said, he does not want to be a member of any political party or want to endorse any political ideologies. “I do not have much knowledge about any political ideologies they put forward.”

It has been a privilege to meet our Honourable Prime Minister Shri. @narendramodi ji on this auspicious day of Janmashtami. Briefed him about @ViswaSanthiFndn  and our multifaceted social initiatives. pic.twitter.com/Bj70R1g8nA

— Mohanlal (@Mohanlal) September 3, 2018

He has assured all support and offered to participate in the Global Malayalee Round table that can formulate futuristic solutions for a New Kerala. Hon. PMO India has also appreciated our vision to set up a Cancer Care Centre to cater to the needs of the under-privileged. pic.twitter.com/3icdyqZlgu

— Mohanlal (@Mohanlal) September 3, 2018

The speculations of him joining BJP also gained weight after he met PM Narendra Modi on Monday regarding his Non-Profit Organisation that works for the under-privileged.  Tweeting about the meeting, he said, “it has been a privilege to meet our Honourable Prime Minister Shri. @narendramodi ji on this auspicious day of Janmashtami. Briefed him about @ViswaSanthiFndn and our multifaceted social initiatives. “He has assured all support and offered to participate in the Global Malayalee Round table that can formulate futuristic solutions for a New Kerala. Hon. PMO India has also appreciated our vision to set up a Cancer Care Centre to cater to the needs of the under-privileged,” his accompanying tweet read. Responding to the tweets, PM Modi lauded the actor’s humility and range of social service initiatives he has taken up. ”Yesterday, I had a wonderful meeting with @Mohanlal Ji. His humility is endearing. His wide range of social service initiatives are commendable and extremely inspiring.”

Yesterday, I had a wonderful meeting with @Mohanlal Ji. His humility is endearing. His wide range of social service initiatives are commendable and extremely inspiring. pic.twitter.com/f3Dv3owHUV

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 4, 2018

BJP has firmly set its sights on the coastal state which has 20 seats up for grabs. The saffron party drew a blank in the previously held general polls and has never in the past been in power. The Congress, on the other hand, claimed 8 seats. Tharoor, Twitterati’s blue-eyed boy, is seeking his third term from Thiruvananthapuram or Trivandrum that is also the state capital. 58-year-old Mohanlal Viswanathan has also acted in couple of Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Telugu movies.  It would be interesting to note if the actor actually makes an entry into the politically-charged state of Kerala that is dominated by two coalition fronts: the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Indian National Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).