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Ollywood Cine Stars Shine On Bijepur Campaigning Trail





Ollywood Cine Stars Shine On Bijepur Campaigning Trail

“Padma phulaphutiba (The lotus will bloom),” says Ghumdo Majhi, a farmer in Bijepur block, as he works in his field. “We are struggling to get basic needs like water. The present Government has not done anything. This time, BJP will come to power,” he says.

A few metres away, in a betel shop, a group of men is discussing the upcoming elections, over a cup of tea. “Congress will emerge victorious. Their candidate Pranay Sahu is a good person. He has helped many people in his area. He is likely to get more votes,” says 58-year old Omprakash Sharma, the owner of the shop.

Returning from his fields after work with few acquaintances, Ramesh Dandasena (38), a farmer, is placing his bet on the ruling BJD. “I have a gut feeling that BJD will win. They have a strong candidate. In my village, most people are rooting for them.”

Considered to be a litmus test ahead of 2019 general elections, the ‘Battle for Bijepur’ is being held after the death of sitting MLA Subal Sahu; and all eyes will be on February 28, the day when the result will be announced.

With politicians clashing head on against one another in the pitched battle of Bijepur bypoll, the parties have also roped in popular actors from the Odia cine industry to woo voters

Perhaps, taking cue from South India where the cine stars enjoy massive popularity, the BJP, of late, has inducted several actors from Ollywood industry into the party. From noted actor Mihir Das to Anu Choudhury, the party has also roped in veteran actress Mahashweta Ray and Aparajita Mohanty. Pinky Pradhan, another actress from the Odia cine industry had earlier joined the party.  

“There are a lot of political parties. But the respect with which I was requested to join the party has touched me. I am sure in the coming days, other actors too will get attracted towards this party as they are focused on development,” said Mahashweta Ray.

Aparajita Mohanty, who joined the party just ahead of the polls, hit the campaigns on February 19, the same day on which she was formally inducted into BJP. She flew down with Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to Bijepur straight after the ‘Misran Parv’ at the BJP State headquarters.

“Cine stars are popular, but have a limited role. They act as a medium for people to know the work the party is doing. For any party, it is their karyakartas (grassroot level workers) who do the maximum work,” said BJP’s Lekhashree Samantasinghar on the number of. politicians joining the party

For BJD, while their ‘star campaigner’ remains Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the ‘cine stars’ on campaign trail include an-all men list of Siddhant Mohapatra, Anubhav Mohanty, Arindam Ray, Akash Dasnayak, Kuna Tripathy and Muna Khan.

Actor turned MP Anubhav Mohanty is leading the charge. He has not only been campaigning at Bijepur, but was also present when his party candidate Rita Sahu filed the nominations. “BJD doesn’t believe in campaigning alone. It believes in hard work and therefore, it has been gaining support of the people. We want to keep the trust intact. Even after Bijepur elections, we will continue with the grassroot level work that we have been doing. All of us are soldiers of Naveen Patnaik. He is our sole ‘super-star campaigner,” Anubhav said.

Author: Tazeen qureshy

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