Stars stay off poll campaign

Hyderabad, April 4: After the initial flush of enthusiasm, film actors and other “star campaigners” of political parties are shying away from electioneering. Only two or three lead campaigners in the lists submitted to the Election Commission are touring the state and the others are sticking to particular constituencies.

Some campaigners are keeping away as they were denied favours and some are still awaiting promises from the particular party. The Congress named 39 leaders including film actors as lead campaigners for the polls.
They include the party president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, and state leaders including the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, and the PCC chief, Mr D. Srinivas.
Others named in the list including film personalities Mohan Babu and Dasari Narayana Rao, and former chief ministers, Mr Janardhan Reddy and Mr Bhaskar Rao, are avoiding statewide tours. Another popular actor Jayasudha and leaders such as Mr S. Jaipal Reddy and Ms Renuka Chowdhury are also confining themselves to their constituencies.
“Everyone is banking on the Chief Minister since none of the others are taking a major role,” said a Congress leader. As per Section 77 of the Representation of People’s Act, political parties have to submit a list lead campaigners whose expenses will be exempted from the account of the contesting candidate.
The Telugu Desam has named 25 leaders and actors as lead campaigners. But only actors Balakrishna, Junior NTR, Kalyan Ram, Taraka Ratna, Kavita and the party chief, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, are touring the state. Of them, Junior NTR is bedridden after a mishap.
Others including Mr K. Yerrannaidu, Mr Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, Dr Nagam Janardhan Reddy, Dr Kodela Siva Prasada Rao and actor Roja are not taking a major role.
The story in the Praja Rajyam is no different, where Chiranjeevi, Pavan Kalyan, and Nagendra Babu have taken up the entire burden of campaigning.