Will not join hands with any political party, says Upendra

Stating that he is not afraid of losing polls, says he will keep trying till death; also says his party won’t have a high command culture but people will be in charge
Actor Upendra at the launch of his political party in Bengaluru on Tuesday  | jithendra M
Actor Upendra at the launch of his political party in Bengaluru on Tuesday | jithendra M

BENGALURU: Kannada Actor Upendra, who launched his political party Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Paksha on Tuesday said that unlike other parties, his party will not have any high command culture. “The public is our high command,” the ‘Real Star’ said.. Excerpts from an interview.

Did you always want to become a political leader?
Almost two decades ago, I had spoken to the media about leaders emerging from common people. I did think about this all these years but it is only now that I have more clarity about what I want to do. And therefore I launched the party.

How has the response to your party been so far?
At least 50,000 people wrote to us, expressing their interest in joining the party. At least 1,000 are capable of becoming leaders. Our candidates will contest from all the 224 Assembly constituencies. Even if 70 people come forward to contest, I will campaign for them.

Will your party merge with any national party?
No, our intention is not to join any political party. In KPJP, there will be no high command culture. The public is our high command.

There are hardly a few months left for the state Assembly election. Aren’t you late?
We are not here to do business. There are aspirants from other parties who start preparing for the elections two years in advance by attending public events, and even giving money for weddings as well as death ceremonies. For us, this is sufficient time.

What if you lose?
If we win, we will improve further. If we lose, we will not lose hope. I will keep trying till death. If I do not get any candidate who can represent our ideology, I will wait for another five years.

If your party comes with a simple majority, will you become the chief minister?
If there are more eligible candidates, they will be given priority and not Upendra. I do not want any famous person to contest from my party.

‘I’m getting support from people’

Bengaluru; “If my cinema is for the intelligent people (his movies have the tag line ‘Buddhivantarige maatra’), my party is for the enlightened people (Pragnyavantharige maatra),” actor Upendra said during the launch of his political party at Gandhi Bhavan here on Tuesday.
“There was doubt as well as hope in my mind while starting the party. In August, after I announced that I will launch the party, I got tremendous support from people,” he said.

Upendra said that through his party he wants to give free education and free healthcare, including insurance. “What we need is a smart village concept. If we make our villages smart, naturally people in cities will go to villages. In the next 10 days, a dedicated website and a mobile application will be launched. Through these, people can get in touch with me directly,” he said.

He said his party will field candidates from all the 224 Assembly constituencies. When asked if he will contest the elections, he said he has not decided that yet. “It will be discussed and decided,” he said and followed it up with another one-liner: “Our party will not have a high command culture, people are our high command.”

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