Tamil actor Radha Ravi jumps ship yet again, joins BJP

Tamil film actor Radha Ravi joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in the presence of the party's working President JP Nadda. Radha Ravi is known to shift parties and has this time shifted from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu after he was expelled from the party for his sexist remarks. 

Chennai: Tamil film and television actor Radha Ravi joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in presence of party working president Jagat Prakash Nadda here on Saturday. Nadda arrived at Chennai Airport on Saturday morning. He is expected to review the party's functioning in the state. He also participated in a road-show. 

Radha Ravi, although from a hardcore Dravidian background, is often known for altering his stand. He started out his career in the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), before setting foot in the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) when Vaiko split from the former to form his own party. 

Ravi’s stint with the MDMK was short and he later returned to the DMK. Soon after, he joined the AIADMK in the 2000s in presence of former Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa. He was elected for one term from the Saidapet constituency on an AIADMK ticket during the 2002 Tamil Nadu Assembly bye-elections.

However, in 2017, Ravi left AIADMK and rejoined the DMK. But in 2019, Radha Ravi made sexist remarks about actor Nayanthara during the audio launch of her movie. The rmarks drew sharp criticism from various sectors and he was suspended from the party. Following this, Radha Ravi quit DMK and joined AIADMK in June.

Now, five months later, ahead of the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Ravi has once again shifted his base and has joined the BJP.