BJP may field Dharmendra from Rajasthan

As per sources in BJP, talks are on with the veteran Bollywood star to field him from Bikaner or Jhunjunu parliamentary constituency.

Veteran film star Dharmendra, better known as "Dharam Paaji", may follow his "Dream Girl" Hema Malini into the BJP in a couple of days.

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According to sources in the BJP, "talks are on with Dharamendra to field him from the Bikaner or Jhunjunu parliamentary constituency in Rajasthan.

Hema Malini formally joined the party about a month ago, and Dharmendra, who hails from Punjab's Phagwara district, is being considered from one of the constituencies in Rajasthan because the party reportedly does not have many strong candidates to field from the state.

Party general secretary Pramod Mahajan said: "Talks are on with him but as of now whether he would contest is not sure."

Meanwhile, the party is yet to decide its candidate for the Amritsar constituency. While former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu is a front runner, party sources say a Hindu candidate can also give a good fight there.

As far as the Chandni Chowk constituency is concerned, the BJP is seriously considering the option of fielding a Hindu candidate, despite the area having a dominant Muslim population. According to a senior party leader, if the party fields a Muslim candidate from here, the Congress' Jai Prakash Aggarwal would have an easy go.