Samajwadi Party discards Jaya Prada in talks with BJP

Actor-turned-politician Jaya Prada, who was expelled from the Samajwadi Party, on Friday said that talks were on with senior leaders of the BJP on her joining the party, and that she wanted to do so to "serve" it and not to contest any elections.

"I want to join BJP as a party worker. I am not craving for any post or opportunity to contest any elections," she said.

Asked about earlier reports that she was likely to be have been pitted against AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal if she had joined BJP, Prada said, "I never said so, I expressed that I wished to join BJP but it was highlighted by the media. I never talked about any ticket distribution." 

Claiming that she had bitter experiences working with Mulayam Singh Yadav when she was in the Samajwadi party, Prada said, "I want to work under the leadership of Narendra Modi now. I want healthy politics, I do not wish to cry anymore in politics."

"I have worked with NT Rama Rao, Chandra Babu and with Mulayam Singh Yadav too and with SP particularly I had bitter experiences in my 10-year

tenure at Rampur. When I suggested that girls should be given English and computer education, Yadav refused to agree with the point and said its not preferable for girls," she said.

"When we are competing with western India how can we not think of these issues. I am impressed with Narendra Modi's leadership, the way he is taking India ahead and encouraging others to do so," added Prada who was in New Delhi to inaugurate a function at a school. 

The former MP said that talks with the BJP on this matter are on.

"Talks are on with all big leaders in BJP. Its not at my level... But at an upper level. My mentor, Amar Singhji is talking to them. The moment it is finalised, I will let everyone know," she said. 

Prada, who hails from Andhra Pradesh, acted in about 70 films in Telugu, Hindi, and other Indian languages before entering into politics in the 1990s. She has been with TDP, Samajwadi Party and RLD in her political career so far. 

She fought the 2014 Lok Sabha election on a Rashtriya Lok Dal ticket from Bijnor but lost to a BJP candidate.