Veteran actor Jaya Prada joins BJP in front of Lok Sabha 2019 election

Mar, 26 Actress-turned-politician Jaya Prada on Tuesday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. As a member of the Samajwadi Party already, she had won the Rampur Lok Sabha seat in 2004 and 2009 preceding being ousted from the party.

Although Jaya Prada and BJP did not confirm if she would contest for the party from Rampur constituency. She, however, thanked the BJP for a warm welcome. "Whether it is film or politics, I have constantly given my best exertion. I am grateful to the party for a warm welcome," she said. "I have worked in TDP and after that for Samajwadi Party. Presently, I get an opportunity to work with a courageous innovator in Narendra Modi. I submit myself to this party and to the country."

There have been intense speculation in the run-up to Jaya Prada joining BJP that she would by and by challenge the Lok Sabha election from Rampur constituency. If given a ticket, she could go head to head against Samajwadi Party's Azam Khan who had recently made various deprecatory comments against her.

Jaya Prada's strong showing from Rampur in 2004 and 2009 - although she lost in 2014 on a RLD ticket - may make a strong case for her. In 2014 Lok Sabha election, BJP's Dr Nepal Singh had secured a win from here.