Sapna Chaudhary | Photo Credit: ANI

New Delhi: Haryanvi singer-dancer Sapna Chaudhary on Saturday joins the Congress party in the run-up to the crucial 2019 Lok Sabha elections. There were reports earlier that she will contest against Bharatiya Janata Party's sitting Member of Parliament Hema Malini. She was inducted into the party at the residence of Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee chief Raj Babbar's Delhi residence.

Chaudhary shot to fame through her YouTube channel where she posted videos of her songs and dances. She catered to a wider audience after participating in the reality television show called Bigg Boss in its 11th season.

Chaudhary isn't the first celebrity to enter the Congress party this election season. Earlier, television actress Shilpa Shinde, of the Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain show, had joined the Congress party on February 5 in the presence of Maharashtra Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam. Another Bigg Boss contestant, Arshi Khan, joined the Congress last month in the presence of some Congress leaders in Mumbai.

The highly-anticipated 2019 Lok Sabha elections are just around the corner. While the Bharatiya Janata Party will look to consolidate their reign at the Centre for a consecutive second term as part of the National Democratic Alliance, the Congress party would aim to bounce back after their abysmal performance in 2014 after holding two terms in the government.

The National Democratic Alliance had formed the government in 2014 with 336 seats in the Lok Sabha after the BJP secured an absolute majority by winning 282 seats out of the total 545 (2 nominated). The Congress party was humbled after 10 years in power, won a measly 44 seats.

However, tables have turned for the Congress in the past five years, with Congress president Rahul Gandhi taking over as the head of the grand old party and spearheading the Opposition’s campaigns.

The general elections will be held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19 for 543 Lok Sabha seats across the country. Counting will be done on May 23.