Fact Check: Will ‘Singham’ Actor Prakash Raj Join BJP?

Chennai: It’s election time in India, and the world’s largest democracy is witnessing serious churning within political parties. Switching allegiance and new signings are the order of the day ahead of the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls beginning on April 19.

Celebrities from the film world have been roped in by various parties as their star candidates.

Now, there is speculation over another actor taking the deep plunge.

It was triggered by a post on X saying that Prakash Raj will be joining the BJP.

“Eminent actor Prakash Raj will join BJP today at 3 pm,” read a post on X by a user by the name of ‘The Skin Doctor’.

In next to no time, the post went viral and crossed a million views.

The 59-year-old actor, who has acted in films like ‘Singham and ‘Wanted’, clarified his stance in a sarcastic post.

“I guess they tried 😂😂😂 must have realised they were not rich enough (ideologically) to buy me.. 😝😝😝.. what do you think friends #justasking,” responded Prakash, winner of five National Film awards among several accolades.

In January, he had claimed that three political parties were trying to get him on board for the 2024 elections — not for his ideology but because he is a critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“I don’t want to get into the trap,” he had said at the Kerala Literature Festival.

Prakash had contested in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Bengaluru Central constituency as an Independent candidate, but lost.