Samajwadi Party Naresh calls Jaya Bachchan mere film dancer

New Delhi, March 12: Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha member Naresh Agrawal, known for shooting off his mouth, started off his new innings in the BJP with a controversial remark by referring to actress Jaya Bachchan as a "mere film dancer".

Agrawal has courted controversy on several occasions in the past through his remarks, both inside and outside Parliament.

On Monday, speaking after joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Agrawal said the Samajwadi Party declined him a Rajya Sabha berth and gave it to a person just because she "could dance and act in the films".

"My stature has been equated with that of a mere film actress. Just because she could dance and act in films, my candidature (to Rajya Sabha) has been sacrificed for her. I haven't taken it kindly," Agrawal said.

Agrawal's term in the Rajya Sabha is ending next month and he was expecting a re-election to the upper House. But his hopes were dashed when the party chose Bachchan to be its candidate.