I am not a showpiece: Rakhi Sawant

Why did you suddenly decide to jump into politics?
I took that decision because I did not want to be a slave of any party. I am not a show piece and hence I decided to form my own party. In any case, people get lost after they join a big party.

Your critics say you have no film offers anymore and that is why you decided to enter politics. Please comment.
I had several offers to act in films. But I rejected all of them and decided to plunge into politics.

Why did you state in your nomination form that you are illiterate?
Certainly you must be joking. My family was poor. My father was in the police force and was drawing a small salary. Because of that I could not study. I had to educate my brother. I am not joking when I state that I remained uneducated because I could not afford education. In any case, what great things have educated people achieved? Literate people should enter Parliament and not illiterates.

Give me details of the people who have been elected as MPs. Even though I have had no education, I can do a better job than the literate people. I do not think education is necessary to give justice to the poor.

Salman Khan has extended his support to your rival Gurudas Kamat. Will that influence the voters?
I don't understand why Salman Khan is speaking in favour of Gurudas Kamat. Salman has never gone to a slum. Salman should do `dadagiri' only in films. If I want, I can call (for my support) Amitabh Bachchanji, Shahrukh Khan and Hritik Roshan. But, I do not want to use them for my politics. I want to get votes in an honest manner. My opponents have a lot of money which they spend on film stars. I do not have that kind of money. Whatever money I have is the result of my hard work.

Salman Khan has extended support to Narendra Modi also. Will that have an impact on Muslim voters?
Salman should first decide whose side he is on. He is confused. I will get all Muslim votes. I am confident of that.

Who in Bollywood has promised to support you?
The entire Bollywood is with me, but I need only the blessings of film personalities. Bollywood has given me name, fame and respect. That is more than enough for me.

Why did you not join a political party instead of establishing one, and that too on the eve of the elections?
The biggest party (BJP) had offered me a ticket to contest from Serampore in West Bengal. (Shrirampur). But, I do not know the local language, nor am I familiar with the local problems. Also, I do not want to be a parachute (airdropped) candidate. I am proud that I am contesting from the area where I live. I am not a showpiece.

What do you have against sitting MP Gurudas Kamat that you have decided to oppose him?
After getting elected as an MP he has not shown his face here in the past five years. He has never worked for his constituency. He lives in Chembur. How do you expect people of this area to go all the way to Chembur to meet him? The ones who did go, could not get their work done. Roads in this constituency are in bad shape. The slum rehabilitation projects and the Oshiwara railway station project have remained incomplete for the past three years. He does not know his constituency. How does he expect to get any vote? I am certain people here will vote for me.