Congress Candidate Campaigns with Shah Rukh Khan Lookalike in Maharashtra, Video Goes Viral

A video of a Shah Rukh Khan lookalike campaigning for Congress candidate Praniti Shinde in the Solapur Lok Sabha constituency of Maharashtra has gone viral on social media. The video shows the lookalike, identified as Ibrahim Qadri, standing atop a vehicle in a makeshift tent, waving to onlookers. The vehicle was adorned with a banner featuring Shinde's image alongside Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Nana Patole.

Praniti Shinde, the daughter of former Union minister Sushilkumar Shinde, has been fielded by the Congress party from the Solapur seat for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra. The use of a celebrity lookalike to attract voters is a common tactic employed by political parties during election campaigns in India.

The BJP has criticized this move by the Congress, calling it an attempt to 'fool people' and accusing the party of using 'AI-generated deep fakes of celebrities.' BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla stated, "After failing to deliver on their promises, the Congress party is now resorting to such tactics to gain votes. This is nothing but a scam."

Ibrahim Qadri, who gained fame on social media for his striking resemblance to Shah Rukh Khan, has been invited to social events across Dubai and Muscat due to his likeness to the Bollywood superstar. Qadri, who used to work painting walls and hoardings, stated that he does not wish to meet Shah Rukh Khan as it would affect his passion, but he would gladly meet the actor if Khan expressed a desire to do so.

Why this matters: The use of celebrity lookalikes in political campaigns raises questions about the blurring lines between entertainment and politics. It also highlights the increasing role of social media in shaping public opinion and influencing voter behavior during elections.

The Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra are being held in five phases from April 19 to May 20. The BJP has fielded Ram Satpute against Praniti Shinde in the Solapur constituency, which is scheduled to vote on May 7 in the third phase. The Congress party has faced other setbacks in the region, with a former Shiv Sena MLA joining the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) fielding a candidate against the BJP MP.

Key Takeaways

• Shah Rukh Khan lookalike campaigning for Congress candidate in Solapur, Maharashtra.
• BJP criticizes Congress for using 'AI-generated deep fakes of celebrities' to attract voters.
• Lookalike Ibrahim Qadri gained fame on social media for his resemblance to Shah Rukh Khan.
• Use of celebrity lookalikes in political campaigns raises questions about entertainment-politics blurring.
• Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra being held in five phases from April 19 to May 20.