THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Is Kerala polity going the Kollywood way? The state is witnessing a never-before trend in Assembly polls this time. The three fronts are vying with one another to field celebrities from cinema, cricket and media.
A host of familiar names like Mukesh, Siddique, Jagadeesh, Suresh Gopi, Kollam Thulasi, Bheeman Reghu, Rajasenan, Ashokan, Vinayan and cricketer S Sreesanth are doing the rounds. The flip side is the charges of sidelining full-time workers and youngsters. Of the three fronts, the Left has ben drawing flak from within and outside for its attempt to rope in actors KPAC Lalitha and Mukesh. “It’s true that there’s wide lobbying within the party to project certain names, to create an impression that being celebrities they have more acceptance. Even factionalism at some regions is linked with this aspect. But those who have dedicated their lives for Communism get the boot. Once you question, they offer the standard reply - we should not have parliamentary ambitions,” said a senior CPM leader from central Kerala.
Names doing the Rounds
“Once you question this they offer the standard reply - we should not have parliamentary ambitions,” quipped a senior CPM leader from central Kerala.
“Ensuring political participation from different streams who can contribute to the nation is a welcome trend. However it should not be done only in the election time,” pointed out Mathew Kuzhalnadan, Youth Congress national secretary.
“When chance of winning becomes the key criteria, the whole concept of politics gets diluted. Fielding celebrities to cash in on their stardom should be condemned. Political parties’ move to field celebrities focusing only on elections should not be supported. From an inclusive angle, an assistant director or musician from the film may contribute better,” Kuzhalnadan said.
Many politicians felt that unnecessary dependence on celebrities would weaken politics. “If earlier candidates used to represent the ideologies of each political party like in the case of O N V Kurup, now, the focus is only on chances of winning. Political parties try to cash in on the stardom to win more seats. It may result in party winning majority. However, it’s an unhealthy trend,” said a prominent leader.
The entry of actors has blocked the dedicated party workers, and the BJP camp has seen an influx of tinsel town personalities.
Suresh Gopi, on whom pressure is mounting to contest for BJP in Thriuvananthapruam constituency, has not completely rejected the offer. A final decision in this regard will be taken by Friday. If Suresh Gopi is indeed contesting, then young leaders like district president S Suresh and spokesman J R Padmakumar will end up with just campaigning.
BJP has almost finalised the candidature of director Rajasenan in the Nedumangad constituency.Kollam Thulasi, the BJP candidate from Kundara, can at least claim that he had received the party membership a couple of years back. But Thulasi’s contribution to the party is minimal.
Bheeman Raghu,another fortune seeker appeared in the BJP camp and tipped to be the candidate at Pathanapuram, has nothing to boast about his commitment to the BJP’s ideology. His candidacy has come at the expense of senior leaders and activists.
“In a constituency like Pathanapuram, where two prominent actors - Ganesh Kumar and Jagadeesh contest- BJP should have given a political fight,” points out M S Syam Kumar, BJP south zone general secretary. However another zonal general secretary M Sunil has a different take.
“A party member’s aim is to achieve the common goal of the organisation. It is natural to have the ambition to contest. But if the party wants to make an experiment, an ideologically committed worker should not feel hurt” said Sunil.
Asked whether the influx of actors has spoiled the chances of aspiring workers, BJP Thiruvananthpuram district president S Suresh said politicians themselves were inviting celebrities to contest.