Politics, power and publicity draw Bollywood starlets, who are even willing to strip, to Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi

A strange new wave is sweeping Bollywood's B-lists. Starlets are willing to shed their clothes for the most unlikely people ever. Models who aspire to find a foothold in the actor-eats-actor world of Indian cinema have boldly gone where few politicians dare.

Bharatiya Janata Party's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi - both bachelors - have attracted a group of aspiring actresses who are swooning over them, stripping for them and are campaigning for them.

Lying nude on a bed of lotuses, model Meghna Patel, strikes a pose holding a poster with Modi's face on it. Meghna, who featured in the popular show 'Kahaani Chandrakanta Ki', is seen holding up a placard that reads, 'Vote for Modi'. Not too long ago, actors Mallika Sherawat had crooned 'Happy Birthday' for Modi on the leader's birthday.

While star endorsements aren't new for politicians - Salman Khan has campaigned for Congress candidates Milind Deora as well as Sanjay Dutt's sister Priya Dutt. He recently promoted his film 'Jai Ho' in Gujarat, flying a kite with Modi. Sanjay Dutt, Nagma, Dharmendra and Zeenat Aman have endorsed politicians in the past. Chirag Paswan has been seen regularly beside his politician father Ram Vilas Paswan the last couple of days.

Politics and the constant media limelight ahead of Lok Sabha elections has drawn a host of starlets who could use the publicity. Sherawat said she found the Gujarat Chief Minister the most eligible bachelor in the country. She went on to say she's willing to do anything for Modi. There's no love lost between her and Gandhi though.

Both BJP and Congress would be glad to snag any vote it gets. And these models have understood that publicity is crucial to survival. Model Tanisha Singh took the war over India's two prominent bachelors a step further by stripping for Gandhi. Arvind Kejriwal has been spared of the tug-of-war so far. But actress Rakhi Sawant did lash out at Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray for comparing her with Delhi's former chief minister.

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