No plans to quit parliament: Govinda
- IndiaGlitz, [Tuesday,September 06 2005]
Actor and Congress MP Govinda Tuesday denied reports about his intention to quit his parliamentary seat, dismissing them as "false rumours".
"It is complete gossip. I have no plans to quit my Lok Sabha seat right now," Govinda told IANS amid reports that he had consulted the Congress leadership on the possibility of his quitting parliament.
Govinda reminded that he had earlier said he would do two films a year to be able to give some time to his political commitments.
"I continue to maintain that stand. I don't see how this can affect my political career. I don't know who is spreading these rumours, but it is completely false," the actor insisted.
"I know how to strike a balance between my political and film career."
Bollywood's foremost comic hero has had trouble lately after public outrage in his constituency over his alleged lack of initiative in helping people after the Mumbai floods.
Even as he drew flak over not fulfilling his responsibilities as an MP, the actor faced a personal setback when his family met with an accident that killed his personal secretary.
Reports suggested Govinda had sounded out Congress leaders on quitting as an MP as he wanted to give full time to films and was not used to the trials of being a people's representative. He was believed to be keen on turning to films to bail him out of financial problems.
Govinda joined the Congress last March, just before the parliamentary elections and successfully contested from the Mumbai North constituency.