Mumbai/Nagpur: Actor Govinda, who joined the Shiv Sena led by CM Eknath Shinde last week, ended speculation on Friday that he would contest the Lok Sabha polls from Mumbai North West.

Govinda said he did not demand any ticket from chief minister Eknath Shinde. Speaking to reporters on his arrival at Nagpur airport, the 60-year-old actor said, “I am not contesting the Lok Sabha polls.”

Govinda began the Sena’s campaign in Vidarbha’s Ramtek on Friday as a star campaigner. He said, “We are starting the election campaign… I will speak in detail at the Ramtek rally. This is just the beginning. Success depends on the way you do your duty. Therefore, I pray that what I have wished for, it will happen. Thanks to CM Eknath Shinde. He put this faith in me. We believe that what we have started now will resonate in the world. The Shiv Sena’s campaign will reach not only Maharashtra but across the country.”

He added, “We have not had any discussion regarding whether I should contest the election or not. I didn’t even ask for a ticket. This is a new beginning for me. The Shiv Sena is with CM Shinde. I thank him for giving me this opportunity. Now I have come to campaign for Sena, so Sena candidates will surely win.”

A former Congress MP from Mumbai North (he had defeated BJP’s Ram Naik in the 2004 LS polls), Govinda joined the Shiv Sena last month, after which he was said to be among the frontrunners for the Mumbai North West seat though both CM Shinde and Govinda claimed he had not joined the Sena for an election ticket.