Mohanlal: No plans to contest Lok Sabha polls

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Actor Mohanlal rubbished a rumour that he would contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Thiruvananthapuram on a BJP ticket. The rumour began after the actor called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday.
"I met the Prime Minister as part of a planned meeting to brief him about the activities of a trust. I don't know anything about me contesting an election and hence there is no point in commenting on the same.Let me do my job," he told a vernacular online media on Wednesday.
Mohanlal is said to have met the Prime Minister in connection with the activities of 'Viswasanthi' foundation, a charitable organization he has nurtured.
The actor's reply came a few hours after BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai welcomed him to the party. "Ours is a party which has lots of unexpected opportunities in Kerala. We are eagerly awaiting to make use of such chances. If he is ready to contest the election on a BJP ticket, he is more than welcome," Pillai said.
But, Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor gave a measured reply when asked about the rumour of facing the actor at the next election. Without mentioning the actor's name, Tharoor admitted that he too had hear a rumour.
"I respect and like him as an actor. He is a Trivandrum's native son and has a home in my constituency. I think public like and respect people in their own fields. If they wish to try a different field, a whole different yardstick will have to be applied," he said while taking part in the India for Kerala conclave organized by the Times Network.
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said: "Mohanlal is an actor with a mass appeal. People like him very much. I don't think he will do such a blunder."