Varun Singh (MID-DAY; June 29, 2014)

Reality star and actor Rakhi Sawant, who had contested the recent Lok Sabha elections in April and secured nearly 2,000 votes, yesterday formally joined the Republican Party of India (A) and was appointed the working president of the party’s women’s wing.

Scotching recent speculation when she apparently spoke about joining the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) she joined RPI (A) in the presence of the party’s chief Ramdas Athawale.

Not one to let go of an opportunity to speak up, Sawant expressed her desire to be the chief minister of the state one day. “Agar chai bechnewale Modiji PM ban sakte hai toh mai CM kyu nahi ban sakti?” said Sawant. (If a tea seller can become the PM then why can’t I become the CM?).

Asked whether she would contest the forthcoming assembly elections, she said, “I am ready, but my party chief will decide.” Athawale, on his part, referred to Sawant as someone more powerful than Kumari Mayawati. “Sawant will go ahead of Mayawati as she is more powerful,” he said.

Athawale also claimed that once when he was refused entry to the Bigg Boss house, Sawant had called him to say it was not a good place and not suited for a person like him.