The Pataudi family has had strong ties with the city. Kareena Kapoor has visited Bhopal many times. (Photo credit: Arbaaz Khan Productions)

Probably buoyed by the recent success in assembly elections, Congress leaders in Madhya Pradesh have put forward a demand that actress Kareena Kapoor should be given a chance to contest Lok Sabha elections from Bhopal on party ticket.

Congress leaders Guddu Chauhan and Anees Khan have come up with the plan which they say will be instrumental in unseating BJP from power in the city that has become its stronghold. Bhopal has chosen to elect a BJP MP for decades.

Guddu Chauhan and Anees Khan argued that since Kareena Kapoor has a great fan-following among the youngsters, they will vote for her.

Additionally, they pointed out, being a daughter-in-law of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi will work in Kareena's favour. Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, father of actor Saif Ali Khan, was born in Bhopal. His grandfather was the last ruling Nawab of Bhopal.

The Pataudi family has had strong ties with the city. Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Sharmila Tagore and Soha Ali Khan have visited Bhopal many times.

The two Congress leaders strongly feel that this will translate into votes for Congress if Kareena Kapoor contests on the party ticket. Chauhan and Khan are eager to meet Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath to discuss the matter further.

Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi had contested Lok Sabha elections from Bhopal in the year 1991. He was soundly defeated by BJP's Sushil Chandra Verma.

Verma had defeated Pataudi with a margin of more than one lakh votes.

BJP lashes out at Congress

BJP took potshots at the Congress after the demand for Kareena Kapoor's candidacy.

"Congress ke paas neta nahi bache isliye abhineta ke sahare chunaav ladna chah rahe hain (Congress does not have a strong candidate, so it is now trying to field an actor)," said Alok Sanjar, current MP of Bhopal.

He claimed that the Congress is trying to "import" a candidate from Mumbai as they are no competent local leaders. He expressed confidence that BJP will win Bhopal in upcoming Lok Sabha elections.