Just three days ahead of the Assembly election inMaharashtra, superstar Salman Khan's bodyguard Shera joined Shiv Sena onFriday.

The formal announcement was made by Shiv Sena on Twitter.Shera, whose real name is Gurmeet Singh, was welcomed to the Shiv Sena by theparty chief Uddhav Thackeray and Yuva Sena president Aditya Thackeray at their residence Matoshree in Mumbai.

Shera has been associated with Salman for several years now.He is one of his most-trusted aides, spotted often with the superstar atevents, parties, family gatherings and shoots.

Shiv Sena is contesting the election in Maharashtra in alliancewith the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Aditya, the elder son of Uddhav, has been fielded from theWorli Assembly constituency in Mumbai. Aditya is the first member of theThackeray family ever to contest an election. Ever since Bal Thackeray foundedShiv Sena in 1966, no member of the family has contested any election or heldany constitutional post. Voting for the 288-member Assembly will be held on 21October in a single-phase voting. The counting of votes will take place on October 24.