Kerala Assembly elections: Film stars shine over veterans

Thiruvananthapuram: Stars have had mixed fortunes in the volatile political scene in the state. This time also the LDF, the  UDF and the BJP are testing the popularity of film stars though there have been opposition to them from the party cadres.

While the Congress may field Jagadeesh and  Siddique from Pathanapuram and Aroor respectively, the CPM has given ticket to KPAC Lalitha from Wadakkancherry. It is also considering  Mukesh  from Eravipuram in Kollam.

Actor Devan, who has floated the Kerala People’s Party,  may fight on the BJP banner. Suresh Gopi has said that he would enter the fray only in the next Lok Sabha polls  on the BJP banner.

Siddique told DC that he had  always been a Congress supporter. “I am a voter first but  due to my stint in films, people look upon me as an actor first,” Siddique told DC.

In the Malayalam film world, the first to get elected to the Assembly was Ramu Kariat, director of Chemmeen,   in 1964 from Nattika as an independent supported by the Communist parties. Prem Nazir joined the Congress during the late 70s, but did not  contest the elections. Sheela too joined the Congress in 2012.    

Innocent won as an independent candidate from Chalakudy in the 2014 Lok Sabha  elections with LDF  support.  Comedian Adoor Bhasi alias K. Bhaskaran Nair had tried his luck as RSP candidate in the local level elections and was defeated. National award winning actor Murali contested the Parliament elections on the CPM ticket, but failed.

Director Lenin Rajendran was fielded by the CPM in the Lok Sabha polls against former president K.R. Narayanan. The late actor Sukumaran, a Congress supporter,  was  at the helm of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation.