Rajesh Khanna and Elections

When legendary super star Rajesh Khanna was contesting from New Delhi parliamentary constituency on the recommendation of late Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, he unfortunately lost to the BJP heavyweight and stalwart Lal Krishna Advani by merely nearly 15 hundred votes but after the BJP leader retained his Gandhi Nagar Lok sabha seat which he had won along with New Delhi, Rajesh Khanna aka Kaka contested again in 1992 against the BJP candidate actor Shatrughan Sinha and stood triumphant.

This election between two bollywood stars was quite interesting as the New Delhi parliamentary constituency became a hot seat, first in 1991 between BJP stalwart Lal Krishna Advani and Kaka and thereafter between popular villain Shatrughan Sinha and super star Kaka.

Both the Bollywood stars were quite popular carrying massive fan following behind them but the first and original superstar of India Rajesh Khanna was more popular and adorable than Shatru as the election of hot New Delhi seat was converted into a fight between a celluloid villian and a silver screen hero.

Rajesh Khanna with Sunil Negi and others when he was contesting from the New Delhi parliamentary constituency.

Rajesh Khanna’s admiration, popularity and attraction was still intact in 1991-92 and his fan following crossing all limits. Kaka’s enhanced popularity amongst the New Delhi electorates during 1992 could be gauged from the fact that the Congress candidate Rajesh Khanna though a novice in front of veteran leader Lal Krishna Advani, lost the election by merely 1500 votes.

This defeat was considered as a big blow for BJP and Congress patted Kaka despite losing New Delhi.

Keeping in view Kaka’s enhanced popularity as a Super star, BJP had no option but to field a Bollywood actor only, rather than a politician as there was no leader of Advani’s stature who could defeat Kaka for the second time.

Hence after immense efforts the BJP high command had no option but to convince Shatrughan Sinha to contest against Kaka from New Delhi, the Lok Sabha won by stalwart like Lal Krishna Advani.

According to sources, initially Shatrughan Sinha refused to accept the BJP candidature against Kaka, keeping in view his immense popularity and the little margin with which stalwart like L. K. Advani could win.

But after immense pressure of senior BJP leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Shatrughan Sinha had no option but to accept the BJP high command’s directive.

And sources reveal that Shatru was later on rewarded for his losing against Kaka by Vajpayee who appointed him as union health minister while he was the prime minister years after.

Seen in the picture is the author discussing with Rajesh Khanna in 1992. In the picture Kaka along with wife and actress Dimple Kapadia, and daughters Twinkle and Rinki at the venue of Religious convention in Ramleela Grounds where they were invited on 8th November at Manav Dharma Sammelan congregation by Satpalji Maharaj, religious guru and currently minister of Tourism in Uttarakhand.

However, there is an interesting story behind Kaka’s wife – prominent actress Dimple Kapadia and her actress daughters’ Twinkle and Rinki Khanna helping Kaka extensively in his election campaigning, the fact which very few people know.

In the first election of 1991 when Kaka contested against BJP political heavy weight Lal Krishna Advani, his estranged wife Dimple Kapadia and actress daughters Twinkle and Rinki were conspicuous by their absence.

Kaka had then contested the election single handedly without the family’s support from New Delhi against Advani , under senior Congress leader and Indira Gandhi’s trusted lieutenant R. K. Dhawan’s leadership guided and backed by then PM Rajiv Gandhi.

But when actor Shatrughan Sinha came into picture in the second election in 1992 after Kaka’s first defeat against Advani, PV Narsimha Rao was the PM as Rajiv Gandhi had been assassinated in May 1991.

This time Narsimha Rao wanted Kaka to win this seat by all means and had directed the then Delhi Congress chief HKL Bhagat, senior Congress leader RK Dhawan and New Delhi Congress chief Roshan Lal and others to relentlessly work hard for the super star.

Kaka was demoralized as New Delhi was the stronghold of BJP and Shatrughan Sinha was quite active and also possessing immense oratorical skills. Kaka was apprehensive that if he loses for the second time, his political career and image as a super star will not only be relinquished but he would be nowhere.

On the other hand Shatrughan Sinha was equally apprehensive of losing the New Delhi Lok Sabha seat as Kaka’s popularity those days were on the peak and his fan following infinite.

However, despite all this both the stars were doing their best to gather maximum votes in their favor.

While Kaka was leaving no stone unturned to win New Delhi by all means with the support of Congress leaders and workers, Shatrughan Sinha of BJP and his wife Poonam too were extremely working hard to ensure his victory.

However, keeping in view the extraordinary efforts of BJP candidate Shatrughan Sinha’s wife Poonam in mobilizing women workers and electorates in the saffron party’s favor, an urgent need was felt to bring in popular actress Dimple Kapadia Khanna and Kaka’s daughters Twinkle and Rinki to help the superstar gain maximum mileage.

In the absence of Kaka’s wife and daughter, the BJP leaders and workers during those days were actually defaming the superstar as an irresponsible father whose family is not coming in his support or rescue during election whereas Kaka’s political rival Shatrughan Sinha’s wife Poonam was there with her husband from day one.

The proactive role and contribution of Shatru’s wife in her husband’s election campaigning especially by way of mobilizing the women and ladies in New Delhi constituency had disturbed the senior Congress leaders who were apprehensive of losing women votes thus harming Kaka’s winning chances.

Moreover, the BJP leaders and Shatru’s camp were spoiling Kaka’s chances by branding him as an irresponsible father and husband who was not being supported by his wife and family in the election whereas in the contrary BJP candidate Shatrughan’s wife Poonam was proving to be a “Pativrata” wife helping her husband from day one by working hard day and night.

The senior Congress leader asked Kaka to establish contact with his wife and popular bollywood actress Dimple Kapadia and ask her to reach Delhi to campaign in extensively Congress’s favor.

Kaka however was least interested but sources reveal that since the then prime minister Narsimha Rao was keenly interested to win this seat to honor late Rajiv Gandhi’s hearty wish, who had offered the New Delhi parliament seat to Kaka, R K Dhawan being the in charge of New Delhi seat finally proved successful in convincing Dimple campaign extensively in favor of Kaka.

It may be recalled that while Rajiv Gandhi was very fond of Kaka, the later considered the late PM as his God father.

Senior Congress leader R. K. Dhawan looking after New Delhi election talked to Dimple Kapadia and Kaka’s daughters and requested them to dedicate their time to campaign for Kaka. Kaka too requested them and the family agreed.

Author Sunil Negi with super star Rajesh Khanna Kaka at 15 Canning Lane, New Delhi, Kaka’s election office, in 1991 when he was contesting as the Congress candidate from New Delhi parliamentary constituency against BJP heavy weight Lal Krishna Advani.

The entire family reached Delhi and held the first impressive press conference at 81 Lodhi Estate arranged by me, then Kaka’s media advisor, assured of the family’s total support to Kaka. Dimple, Twinkle and Rinki extensively campaigned for Kaka for several days and finally super star of the millennium won hands down. Sunil Negi, The then media advisor to Kaka.