In a major boost to BJP’s prospects among the dominant Poorvanchali voters in the run up to the Assembly polls, popular Bhojpuri actor-singer Manoj Tiwari on Thursday joined the party.
The BJP expects a significant improvement to its Poorvanchali vote share with arrival of Tiwari in the electoral fight in Delhi. The natives of Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, commonly referred to as Poorvanchalis, constitute nearly 40 per cent of the Capital’s total votes and Tiwari commands popularity among the community. His entry into the BJP is also being seen as an offset to Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi joining the Congress. Mehndi is a probable candidate from Sikh dominated Assembly segments of Tilak Nagar, Hari Nagar and Rajouri Garden.
Tiwari formally accepted the membership of the BJP in the presence of former president and Delhi election in-charge Nitin Gadkari, Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel and former president Vijender Gupta.
lauding the contribution of Tiwari in the Bhojpuri film industry and the socio-cultural representation of Bhojpuri on the national arena, Goel said Tiwari enjoys considerable influence among the people from Poorvanchal living in Delhi, who have been neglected by the present Government. “With Tiwari joining the party, the support of the Poorvanchalis will only swell in favour of the BJP in Delhi,” said Goel.
“He has a huge fan following and will prove to be an asset for the party. All those who want to get rid of Congress misrule are joining the flanks of BJP as it is the only viable alternative in the city,” he added. On joining the party, Tiwari said that he was ready to take any task assigned by the party leadership and that he would contribute to BJP’s fight to dislodge the Congress-ruled Governments in Delhi and the Centre.