Indian actor Sayaji Shinde made a surprising move by joining the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar. The addition of the renowned actor is expected to bring benefits to the party in the upcoming elections.
Shinde, known for his work in Bollywood and Tollywood films, expressed that he had never planned to enter politics but was drawn to NCP’s strategies, particularly those of Ajit Pawar. He had previously praised the Maharashtra government’s initiatives.
“I never imagined myself in politics. This may come as a shock to many. During my visits to Mantralaya, I met Ajit Pawar on numerous occasions. I admire the strategies of NCP and Ajit Pawar,” said Shinde upon joining the party.
The actor officially joined NCP in the presence of Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, party’s working president Praful Patel, and state NCP chief Sunil Tatkare.
Deputy CM Pawar welcomed Shinde into the party and announced him as the star campaigner for the upcoming state assembly elections. “Shinde will be given utmost respect within the party,” stated Ajit Pawar.
NCP leaders expressed their pride in having Shinde associated with the party, acknowledging his contribution as a versatile actor who has worked across different Indian languages.
Shinde, born in Satara district of Maharashtra, started his career in Marathi theatre and gained recognition in Bollywood with his role as an antagonist in the film “Shool”. Apart from Hindi and Marathi movies, he has also acted in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, English, Gujarati, and Bhojpuri films.
In addition to his acting skills, Shinde is known for his activism in raising awareness about environmental protection.
The actor emphasized the importance of being a part of the system to work more effectively, citing Ajit Pawar’s leadership style as inspiring. He highlighted his interactions with Pawar on environmental causes as a motivating factor for joining politics.