Kirron Kher, 58, Actress, celebrity judge
Representing: BJP
Contesting from: Chandigarh
Born and brought up in a Sikh family from Chandigarh, Kher believes she doesn?t need to ?act? like a politician and that she?d rather be ?real? to win votes. ?Help me bring bring back original glory of Chandigarh. We are in d age of development. It is important to empower women & create jobs 4 all,? she had tweeted.
Bappi Lahiri, 61, Music director, singer
Representing: BJP
Contesting from: Sreerampore (West Bengal)
Bappida is making his electoral debut from Sreerampore. ?I am a Bengali and Sreerampore is my heartland. I want to turn this place into a tourism hub and open an academy for people who love music. This time I want the ?lotus? to bloom with my music,? he said. He has even composed a song for the BJP: ?Atalji ko pranam, Advaniji ko pranam, Rajnathji ke sapne honge sakar, Modiji karenge Bharat mein chamatkar.?
Babul Supriyo, 43, Singer
Representing: BJP
Contesting from: Asansol
(West Bengal)
Bollywood singer Babul Supriyo is the BJP candidate from West Bengal?s Asansol constituency. If voted to power, Supriyo plans to spend at least four days in Asansole every month and the rest in Delhi fighting for his constituency.
Paresh Rawal, 63, Actor
Representing: BJP
Contesting from: Ahmedabad-East, Gujarat
Versatile actor Paresh Rawal, known for his comic timings, is contesting the Lok Sabha election from Ahmedabad-East seat on a BJP ticket. Said to be a Modi fan, Rawal said making him the Prime Minister is his priority. He is also playing the role of Modi in an unnamed biopic.
PC Sorcar (Jr), 67, Magician
Representing: BJP
Contesting from: Barasat (West Bengal)
The magician is contesting on a BJP ticket. ?I am a magician. I achieve the impossible on stage. I hope to do the same off stage this time,? said Sorcar.
Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, 44, Shooter
Representing: BJP
Contesting from: Jaipur (Rural), Rajasthan
The 2004 Athens Olympics double-trap shooting silver-medalist is contesting from the Jaipur (Rural) Lok Sabha seat on a BJP ticket. Rathore joined the BJP last year after taking voluntary retirement from the Indian Army.
Ravi Kishan Shukla, 42, Bhojpuri actor
Representing: Congress
Contesting from: Jaunpur (UP)
Popularly known as Ravi Kishan, he is contesting from his hometown Jaunpur on a Congress ticket. Soon after joining the Congress, Kishan said he wants to be part of ?the movement to bring the Congress back to its days of glory?.
Mohammad Kaif, 33, Cricketer
Representing: Congress
Contesting from: Phulpur (UP)
Allahabad-born Kaif is the Congress candidate from the prestigious Phulpur constituency in Allahabad, UP, the place which produced India?s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
Gul Panag, 35, Actress, model and former beauty queen
Representing: AAP
Contesting from: Chandigarh
The former beauty queen is the AAP candidate from Chandigarh. The Lok Sabha constituency will see a tough fight between Panag, Congress? sitting MP Pawan Bansal and BJP?s actor-turned-politician Kirron Kher.
Javed Jaffrey, 50, Actor, dancer, comedian
Representing: AAP
Contesting from: Lucknow
Bollywood actor Javed Jaffrey, also a celebrity judge, is the AAP candidate from Lucknow Lok Sabha constituency. Though a new face in politics, he is pitted against BJP veteran Rajnath Singh in the constituency.
Baichung Bhutia, 37, Footballer
Representing: TMC
Contesting from: Darjeeling
The noted football player is the TMC candidate from Darjeeling constituency. Bhutia said only development under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee can solve the problems of the hills.
Moon Moon Sen, 66, Actress
Representing: TMC
Contesting from: Bankura (West Bengal)
Bollywood?s yesteryear actress Moon Moon Sen is one of the top attractions in the TMC list of star campaigners. Fighting from West Bengal?s Bankura Lok Sabha seat, she wants to make Bankura more accessible from different corners of Bengal.
Biswajit, 77, Actor
Representing: TMC
Contesting from: New Delhi
Yesteryear Tollywood superstar Biswajit is TMC?s face from New Delhi. Making his political debut, he said it was at Mamata Banerjee?s instance he decided to contest the election.
Mahesh Manjrekar, 55, Actor, director
Representing: MNS
Contesting from: Mumbai Northwest
Actor-cum-director Mahesh Manjrekar is fighting the Lok Sabha election on an MNS ticket from Mumbai Northwest. It will be a battle among six high-profile candidates, which include sitting Congress MP Gurudas Kamat, Shiv Sena leader Gajanan Kirtikar and AAP?s Mayank Gandhi, besides Manjrekar.
Rakhi Sawant, 35, Actress
Representing: Rashtriya Aam Party
Contesting from: Mumbai Northwest
Bollywood ?item girl? Rakhi Sawant is contesting elections through her new party. Sawant said she was offered a BJP ticket from West Bengal, but as she belongs to Mumbai and knows Hindi and Marathi, she decided not to contest from the state. ?I want to contest election to wake up the MPs from their deep sleep. Political leaders are sucking blood of the people,? said Sawant.