Bajaj Auto managing director Rajiv Bajaj has sought to scotch speculation that he is poised to join Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party to contest the general elections due by May. The buzz gained ground after the industrialist had praised Mr Kejriwal a few days ago.
"I continue to be...a fan of Arvind Kejriwal. I'm a well-wisher, I'm a supporter. I will do what I can to support them. However, to extrapolate to imagine that I'm a member of AAP or I'm going to contest elections is a bit silly as I said to someone," Mr Bajaj told NDTV today.
He said his chances of joining politics were about as much as his chances of joining Bollywood. "More than Arvind, I have known for far longer, Shah Rukh Khan for example. I consider him a close friend. But, to say that I'm going to join Bollywood would be silly. I'm supportive of Shah Rukh Khan," Mr Bajaj pointed out.
In an interview to NDTV last month, Mr Bajaj had said he was a "fan" of Mr Kejriwal and said, "...leadership makes all the difference. At the end of the day we have to bet on leaders. My personal sense is Arvind Kejriwal is a leader who is worthy of having bets placed on him." (Read: Story)
It had led to much speculation that the businessman would be named in AAP's second list of candidates for the Lok Sabha elections. The list was released on February 27, but Mr Bajaj did not figure on it.