Bollywood actor Govinda joins Shiv Sena

Govinda, who has had a couple of meetings with Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde at his residence recently, has now decided to join the Shiv Sena. A source close to Govinda said, "Govinda has decided to

return to politics

and has had offers from various political parties." The source further added that Govinda has thanked Eknath Shinde and he too, has welcomed him on board.

Earlier, speculations were rife in Bollywood circles, as Govinda was rumored to be gearing up for a return to politics.
Govinda had a small stint as a politician when fought on a Congress ticket from the North Bombay constituency.

Further, the announcement of

Amol Kirtikar's candidature

from the Mahavikas Aghadi for the North-West seat by Udhav Thackeray has led to considerations of Govinda replacing the incumbent MP Gajanan Kirtikar, citing age-related factors.
Interestingly, discussions were held previously with prominent Bollywood figures like Akshay Kumar, Madhuri Dixit, and Nana Patekar for the same position. However, Akshay and Nana declined, while Madhuri Dixit did not express any interest.

Govinda's foray into politics dates back to 2004 when he contested from the North Mumbai Lok Sabha seat, famously defeating BJP veteran Ram Naik. His victory earned him the epithet of the 'giant killer.' This victory was particularly significant as North Mumbai, encompassing several key assembly segments, had long been considered a BJP stronghold. Govinda's triumph over Ram Naik, a five-time MP, marked a pivotal moment in his political career, underscoring his popularity and influence in the region.