Arvind Kejriwal extends support to Prakash Raj, says need independent, non-partisan voices in Parliament

Days after Prakash Raj, the actor-turned-filmmaker, announced his decision to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha Election 2019, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday reached out to the newest celebrity entrant to politics. According to sources close to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the two had discussed several ongoing issues. However, the party has refused to elaborate further on the Kejriwal-Prakash Raj meeting this morning. On January 5, Raj confirmed his official entry into politics, announcing that he will be contesting the 2019 general elections as an Independent candidate from the Bengaluru Central constituency.

Soon after the meeting, the AAP took to Twitter and wrote, "Noted actor and politician Prakash Raj called on AAP Convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. They discussed various issues".

Raj too tweeted about the meeting while sharing a series of photographs with AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at his residence in Delhi. Thereafter, Kejriwal tweeted his response, saying that "We need people like Prakash Raj to enter Parliament".

Read | I'm anti-Modi & anti-Amit Shah, not anti-Hindu, says Prakash Raj

"Prakash ji, it was great meeting u today. AAP fully supports u and we agree wid ur decision to fight as an independent candidate. We need independent and non-partisan voices too in Parliament," the AAP leader added.

We need people like Prakash Raj to enter Parliament.

Prakash ji, it was great meeting u today. AAP fully supports u and we agree wid ur decision to fight as an independent candidate. We need independent and non-partisan voices too in Parliament. https://t.co/M0LO376dG7

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 10, 2019

After Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, Raj has been the third eminent actor from the South Indian film industry to join full-fledged politics in recent times.

Read | Prakash Raj takes a jibe at Modi, says 'if given chance people want to correct their 2014 mistake'

Raj would be fighting against BJP's PC Mohan, who defeated the Congress candidate with over 40,000 votes in 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The BJP leader has held Bangaluru central's seat ever since it was carved out from Bengaluru north and south after the delimitation process in 2019.

The Bollywood actor is considered to have an anti-BJP stance and has been critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi government on many occasions. His demands include a fare and speedy justice for his friend and murdered journalist Gauri Lankesh in September 2017.