Sanjay`s electoral prospects were bright, says Hema Malini

Ranchi, April 01: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and veteran actress Hema Malini Wednesday expressed "disappointment" that Sanjay Dutt had been denied permission to contest polls by the Supreme Court and said she could not pursue politics "full time" but left the field open for her daughter Esha to do so.

"We are disappointed," the BJP`s star campaigner told reporters about the Supreme Court refusing to permit Dutt, convicted for being in the possession of illegal weapons in the run-up to the 1993 Mumbai bombings, to contest the Lucknow polls as the Samajwadi Party`s candidate. "Sanjay is a good man like his father. His prospect was bright... His past record came in the way." The Rajya Sabha MP said husband Dharmendra, who was a BJP MP in the last Lok Sabha, was not contesting the parliamentary elections either because he was not very interested in politics. "Dharamji does not have so much interest in politics. He is a good film actor. As far as I am concerned, I have other assignments which I have to fulfill. I do any work with full devotion and I think I cannot devote full time to politics," the actor-danseuse told reporters here. However, daughter Esha, also an actor, was interested. "Esha has interest in politics. I am here to campaign because Esha allowed me." "Esha can join politics in future. Today`s youth shy away from joining politics. There is need to promote youth to join politics," she added. But Ranchi`s home grown cricket idol Mahendra Singh Dhoni should be left alone to pursue the sport. "Dhoni is a good cricketer and let him concentrate on cricket. Please do not drag him into politics," Hema Malini said, predicting "good prospects" for the BJP in this election. IANS