BANGALORE: Mungaaru Male star Pooja Gandhi is in the news again. If things go according to plan, the stage is set for the JD(S) to welcome Pooja after Sankranti.
Pooja’s visit to the JD(S) office on Thursday evening was considered a sign of her inclination to join the party.
Pooja was invited by Jyothi Reddy, president, JD(S) women’s wing, to attend the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, organised at the party office on Race Course Road. Jyothi Reddy wanted to serve a twin purpose: to introduce Pooja to JD(S) leaders and add glamour to the function.
Meanwhile, the actress, who has been associated with NGOs that work for people living with HIV, gave a brief speech about her work with marginalised sections in society and how she was impressed by state JD(S) chief H D Kumaraswamy’s “helping hand to the needy people, especially women”.
However, Jyothi Reddy confirmed Pooja’s meeting with Kumaraswamy a few days ago.
“I had attended Pooja’s programme to help people with HIV. I had advised her to take JD(S)’s help to aid people in need. I had also advised her to join the JD(S). She told me she would think it over,” said Jyothi Reddy.
She said Kumaraswamy had advised Pooja to wait for a few days till the “appropriate day” to join the party. “Pooja will join JD(S) after Sankranti. The date of joining will be decided only after consulting party supremo H D Deve Gowda and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy,” she said.
Meanwhile, C Narayanaswamy, senior JD(S) leader, said a decision on admitting Pooja would be taken only after consulting Gowda and Kumaraswamy. “As of now, Pooja Gandhi is not a member of JD(S). She visited our party office as a guest to attend the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda,” said Narayanaswamy. Pooja was not available for comment.