<p>Congress on Friday announced the candidature of popular actress Urmila Matondkar from Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat, which has emerged as a stronghold of the BJP.</p>.<p>Matondkar, who joined the Congress on Wednesday, will contest against sitting BJP Lok Sabha member Gopal Shetty.</p>.<p>Mumbai North was represented by BJP veteran Ram Naik who was upstaged in 2004 by actor Govinda who was the Congress candidate.</p>.<p>Former Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam retained the seat for the Congress defeating Naik again in 2009.</p>.<p>However, in 2014, the BJP wrested the seat back from the Congress as Shetty trumped Nirupam by a margin of 3.8 lakh votes.</p>.<p>After joining the Congress, Urmila had said that she did not join the Congress party only for fighting elections. </p>.<p>“I have more important issues to fight for. I am here to stay and play longer innings,” she said.</p>.<p>Urmila hails from a family of academicians and had surprised everyone with her decision to pursue a career in films nearly two decades back.</p>
<p>Congress on Friday announced the candidature of popular actress Urmila Matondkar from Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat, which has emerged as a stronghold of the BJP.</p>.<p>Matondkar, who joined the Congress on Wednesday, will contest against sitting BJP Lok Sabha member Gopal Shetty.</p>.<p>Mumbai North was represented by BJP veteran Ram Naik who was upstaged in 2004 by actor Govinda who was the Congress candidate.</p>.<p>Former Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam retained the seat for the Congress defeating Naik again in 2009.</p>.<p>However, in 2014, the BJP wrested the seat back from the Congress as Shetty trumped Nirupam by a margin of 3.8 lakh votes.</p>.<p>After joining the Congress, Urmila had said that she did not join the Congress party only for fighting elections. </p>.<p>“I have more important issues to fight for. I am here to stay and play longer innings,” she said.</p>.<p>Urmila hails from a family of academicians and had surprised everyone with her decision to pursue a career in films nearly two decades back.</p>
