Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt may now play a role in politics with Samajwadi Party today deciding to field him as its candidate from Lucknow in the Lok Sabha polls.

Bhojpuri sensation Manoj Tiwari would be SP's candidates from Gorakhpur.

The party took the decision in its central parliamentary board meeting held here.

SP general secretary Amar Singh announced the decision to field 26 other candidates, including party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, from Mainpuri.

Since Sanjay Dutt was convicted under the Arms Act, the SP would seek the permission of the Supreme Court, where the matter is pending, and the Election Commission to field him.

Apparently referring to BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, Singh said, "Like a BJP MP who is a known cricketer was allowed to contest despite being convicted, we too will try our best to field Dutt...if we fail, he would certainly be our star campaigner.

"Since we are an ally of Congress, and Dutt's sister Priya is a Congress MP, we hope Congress will be happy that we are fielding Dutt," he said. Singh hoped that senior Congress leaders, including Law minister Hansraj Bhardwaj and Ahmed Patel, would "bless" Dutt.

He claimed Dutt was willing to contest the elections.

The party would field Tiwari from Gorakhpur where he would be pitted against BJP's Aditya Nath who is heir apparent of the powerful Gorakhnath Peeth in the East UP city.