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Deepshikha Ghosh in New Delhi
Rumours are rife that Indian megastar Amitabh Bachchan may return to politics, following news that he will share the stage with leaders of an opposition party at a civic function in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.
Bachchan will be present at a civic function organised by the Samajwadi Party on Sunday in his hometown Allahabad, from where he was once elected a member of Parliament.
The SP has sworn to root out the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the upcoming legislative assembly polls in India's most populous state of Uttar Pradesh.
Bachchan's return, this time on stage with the SP, is all set to cause political ripples in Uttar Pradesh, as the actor had earlier contested elections in Allahabad on the Congress party ticket. He is also considered a close friend of the Nehru-Gandhi family, a member of which -- Sonia Gandhi -- heads the Congress.
Bachchan, who is close to Samajwadi Party MP and general secretary Amar Singh, is attending the programme as a first in a series of such events in the run-up to the legislative assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, SP leaders said.
The event has been organised as a civic reception for the actor in Allahabad. SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh will be by his side.
Successful poet-lyricist Javed Akhtar is also likely to be present.
Taking advantage of the immense following of the mega-hit quiz show Kaun Banega Crorepati, hosted by Bachchan, Singh has reportedly rehearsed a little routine from the show with the actor that promotes his party and smacks of a catchy election line.
Bachchan started his political career as a Congress candidate when he won the 1984 election from Allahabad on a wave of public support.
After his name was dragged in some political scandals, he swore off politics and gave up his Parliament seat.
This is his first politically tinged public appearance after 15 years. He grew close to Singh when the latter bailed him out of a severe financial crisis when his company Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited crashed.
With the SP making an aggressive bid to overthrow the BJP from power in Uttar Pradesh, it is being seen as some as time for Bachchan to return the favour.
Indo-Asian News Service
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