Thrissur: Putting to rest all rumours of their entry into politics, popular Malayalam actors Mammootty and Mohanlal have confirmed that they would not contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Speculations have been rife that Mohanlal was in contention for fighting elections on a BJP ticket from the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency while reports appeared in a section of media linked Mammootty to the Thrissur seat as an LDF candidate.

The rumours of Mohanlal’s saffron avatar had gathered strength after he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on September 2. Mammootty, a Left sympathiser, is also the chairman of the CPM-backed Kairali television channel. His close relations with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan only helped to fuel the speculation of him getting ready to take the electoral plunge.

In the past, both of them had campaigned when their colleagues were in the election fray. However, they are unlikely to join the campaign trail this time around.

However, actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi, who is a Rajya Sabha MP, indicated his candidature depends on nod from the BJP leadership. He had said the BJP leadership is yet to hold talks with him

about Lok Sabha bid. It is up to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and national organising secretary BL Santosh to decide on the candidacy, the actor had said.

No decisions have been made yet, added Suresh Gopi.

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