The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday extended support to renowned actor Prakash Raj, who will contest the Lok Sabha election as an independent candidate.The meeting was organised by the Bengaluru unit of the party in the presence of the Karnataka Convener Prithvi Reddy. "It is our moral responsibility to ensure a voice like Prakash Raj who has had the courage to stand for truth and against injustice is sent to parliament," Prithvi said.
The actor, who has been critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government, announced on Tuesday that he would contest the Lok Sabha election as an independent candidate, without naming the constituency.
Following this declaration, the Aam Aadmi Party announced that it will openly support Prakash Raj. The actor, in response, thanked the party "for the assuring support to my political journey".
Thank you @AamAadmiParty Dy CM @msisodia and to every single cadre for the assuring support to my political journey. ... #citizensvoice #justasking in parliament too.. https://t.co/9PH8K9Ujv2
— Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) January 4, 2019
"I welcome the decision of Prakash Raj and all good people are welcome in politics," AAP leader Manish Sisodia said in the meeting, in which volunteers of the party in Bengaluru participated. The Aam Aadmi Party contested 432 seats in the Lok Sabha elections in 2014.
Renowned Actor @prakashraaj declares to contest Loksabha Elections 2019, @AamAadmiParty offered open support to him in a meeting organised by @AAPBangalore in presence of Senior Leader & Delhi Dy CM @msisodia, State Convenor @aapkaprithvi & other Leadership. pic.twitter.com/gdSdU0S8VA
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) January 4, 2019
Earlier on Tuesday, Prakash Raj revealed that he would be contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate. He, however, did not disclose the details of the constituency he will be contesting from.
The actor is popular across the five southern Indian states of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. After his announcement, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), which swept to power in Telangana recently, had also offered him support.
He raised eyebrows in 2018 in the run-up to the State Assembly elections in Karnataka when he made critical statements about the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah..He has also stated that the murder of close friend and journalist Gauri Lankesh was one of the reasons for his attacks against the central government.
It remains to be seen whether the Congress and the JD(S) will follow in the heels of TRS and AAP in declaring their support for the actor.
With inputs from IANS