Karnataka   

15 Karnataka seats may gain ‘star’ status

BANGALORE: An estimated 15 legislative Assembly constituencies across Karnataka are likely to gain “star” status following the reported decision of the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) to rope in people from the tinsel world to contest in the elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accommodated two actors in its first list of candidates for the coming elections.

Film industry sources said that the BJP, which has finalised the candidature of director C.K. Mahendar (Kollegal) and artiste Saikumar (Bagepalli), is likely to rope in some more artistes in the Kannada film and television fields before finalising its final list of candidates.

The BJP representatives in Kannada cinema, Mukhyamantri Chandru and Srinath, MLCs, are said to have been holding talks with artistes. It is, however, not clear whether the BJP is scouting for winning candidates from the film world or is enlisting the support of artistes for campaigning for party candidates.

Pending the approval for some newly “established” producers, the Congress is said to have cleared Mandya MP Ambareesh, former MLC Umasri, former MLA and artiste C.P. Yogeshwar and actor Jaggesh. While Mr. Ambareesh is sure of contesting from Mandya, Ms. Umasri, Mr. Jaggesh, and Mr. Yogeshwar are likely to contest from Bangalore South, Turuvekere and Channapatana constituencies.

Of them, only Mr. Jaggesh, whose father was a mandal panchayat president, and mother a zilla panchayat member in Tumkur district, is yet to taste success in politics.

The number of political aspirants in the film industry has dwindled compared to the elections in 2004. However, the number of aspirants in the production side has increased.

“It is true that many producers with the background of real estate business are keen on getting our party ticket. But we are not concerned with the financial clout and film industry’s glamour, but on the personal and public records of aspirants in issuing ticket,” the Janata Dal (S) spokesperson and MLC, Y.S.V. Datta, told The Hindu on Saturday.

In 2004, major political parties competed with one another to rope in film stars, expecting that they would win hands down. But they were quick to realise that glamour could not be converted into votes.

Besides, workers of some parties complained that film stars were not interested in intense campaign and refused to spend the funds given for election purpose.

Refuting the allegations, an artiste said that all those in the fray representing the film industry were emotionally upset by the death of Soundarya in an air crash days ahead of the elections.

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