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.

Matondkar, who joined the Congress on Wednesday, will contest against sitting BJP Lok Sabha member Gopal Shetty.

Mumbai North was represented by BJP veteran Ram Naik who was upstaged in 2004 by actor Govinda who was the Congress candidate.

Former Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam retained the seat for the Congress defeating Naik again in 2009.

However, in 2014, the BJP wrested the seat back from the Congress as Shetty trumped Nirupam by a margin of 3.8 lakh votes.

After joining the Congress, Urmila had said that she did not join the Congress party only for fighting elections. 

“I have more important issues to fight for. I am here to stay and play longer innings,” she said.

Urmila hails from a family of academicians and had surprised everyone with her decision to pursue a career in films nearly two decades back.