Jaya Bachchan returns to Bangla roots: Could be Mamata's RS-nominee

Apparently, after the UP drubbing, Bachchan began sending "feelers" to WB CM Mamata Banerjee's TMC.

In April'17, a BJP-member declared a Rs. 11L bounty on Mamata; Bachchan slammed BJP saying, "You can protect cows, but women are facing atrocities."

Further, she and husband Amitabh are regulars at the Kolkata Film Festival.

It seems Jaya's "Bengali roots" and popularity make her an ideal Trinamool candidate.

Of Trinamool's four MPs retiring this year, one is Saradha scam accused Kunal Ghosh, who has been suspended indefinitely by the party, and Mukul Roy, who quit the party in October'17 to join BJP.

If nominated, this will be Bachchan's fourth RS term. Though she is a front-runner, a formal announcement will probably be made on March 18, when Mamata takes a final decision.

Notably, Bollywood's Guddi has been regular with her parliamentary commitments. She boasts of 77% attendance.

Also, she hasn't been a mute spectator. As per PRS Legislative Research, Bachchan has participated in about 145 debates and 442 questions, though the average is 88 debates and 405 questions.

She has spoken on crimes against women and for freedom of expression, among other issues.

Bachchan, known for her frankness, also courted controversy.

In 2006, she was disqualified for holding an office-of-profit, as UP Film Development Council's chairperson.

In 2015, she argued with Deputy-Chairman PJ Kurien asking him to give more time to a Shiv Sena MP speaking on the agrarian crisis.

Last year, she expressed disappointment after MP Sachin Tendulkar's debut speech was interrupted by sloganeering MPs.