New Delhi: Film actress Hema Malini today (Feb 19, 2004) formally joined BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and said her husband and film actor Dharmendra would too come into the party fold to campaign for the Lok Sabha polls but would not contest.

Popularly known as "dream girl" the 55-year-old Hema, a Rajya Sabha member was inducted into the party by BJP President M Venkaiah Naidu along with Chandra Vijay Singh, a Lok Tantrik Congress member of the dissolved Lok Sabha.

"I am joining BJP as I feel very close to its ideology. I have great admiration for Atal Bihari Vajpayee," the actress said, who had first begun campaigning for BJP candidate Vinod Khanna in Gurdaspur in Punjab during the 1999 general elections.

Asked if she was ready to fight elections, she said, "No, I have not decided. If the BJP asks me, then I will think over."

On if her actor-husband Dharmendra would come into politics, Hema said, "He too has a great liking for BJP. He would be definitely campaigning during the polls but I do not think he would contest. He is not used to it."