By Admin 
Everyone knows about the famous film actor Dharmendra, who bid goodbye to the world just two days ago, entering politics, contesting the Lok Sabha elections and then quitting politics, but very few people know about which politician’s offer and pressure from his friend led him to join the BJP and agree to contest the Lok Sabha elections. The politician who had offered Dharmendra to contest the elections had taken the decision in this regard 6 months ago in the year 2003, when he had come to Rajasthan for the election campaign of his close friend’s wife. Due to Dharmendra’s campaigning, his friend’s wife was successful in winning the assembly elections which were stuck in the state.
How did Dharmendra enter politics?,
Actually, Dharmendra had come to Jaipur in 1977 for the shooting of a film. Here he met Vijay Poonia, a big businessman of the city and associated with a political family. This meeting turned into such a deep friendship that domestic relations were established between Dharmendra and Vijay Poonia. Friendship with Vijay Punia can be gauged from the fact that Dharmendra not only attended his daughter’s wedding but also performed Kanyadaan with his own hands and also cried emotionally at the time of farewell. Dharmendra and Hema Malini’s daughters often stayed at Vijay Punia’s house. Whenever Dharmendra came to Jaipur, he used to stay at Vijay Punia’s bungalow and he also used to visit his place in Mumbai.
Actor campaigned for Vijay Punia’s wife
In the 2003 assembly elections in Rajasthan, Vijay Punia’s wife Usha was contesting the assembly elections on BJP ticket from Nagaur district. The election was stuck. In such a situation, Vijay Poonia remembered his friend Dharmendra. When he appealed to Dharmendra to campaign, he immediately agreed. Due to the atmosphere created by Dharmendra while reciting the dialogue from the film Sholay, Usha Poonia won the election.
The actor had joined BJP on the request of Vasundhara Raje.
The then CM Vasundhara Raje knew the story of Vijay Punia’s wife Usha winning the elections because of Dharmendra in 2004. He also had information about the friendship between Dharmendra and Vijay Punia. Bikaner Lok Sabha seat was always a challenge for BJP. His performance there was usually not very good.
During the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, Vasundhara Raje called Vijay Punia and asked him to prepare Dharmendra to contest the elections. When Vijay Punia talked to Dharmendra, he clearly refused. Later, Vijay Punia, citing his relations, asked him to meet Vasundhara Raje in Delhi. On the insistence of Vasundhara Raje, Dharmendra not only joined BJP but also agreed to contest the elections.
Dharmendra became MP in difficult circumstances
According to Vijay Poonia, when Dharmendra was contesting elections from Bikaner, many people of BJP were not supporting him. He was elected MP in difficult circumstances. Later, he also met veteran Congress leader Rameshwar Dudi, whom he had defeated in the elections. During the election campaign, Sunny Deol’s meeting had created a perfect atmosphere in favor of Dharmendra. After being elected MP, Dharmendra remained very active for a few days.
Dharmendra had got the university fees reduced
Wanted to do a lot for Bikaner. He did a lot, but because he was not an expert player in politics, other people took the credit for his work. This thing was strange to Dharmendra. Gradually they started creating distance. He did not like politics. However, he also worked for people outside Bikaner. By talking to the then Governor of Rajasthan, Pratibha Devi Singh Patil, he got the university fees reduced and ended the students’ agitation.
According to Vijay Poonia, he was a person of very sociable nature. Despite being a big star, he lived with great simplicity and was very affectionate towards people. His disillusionment with politics was so severe that he even went to Mathura for his wife Hema Malini’s election campaign at the last moment.
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