'Poll stars' in Uttarakhand

Amid harsh winter, a star war of sorts is hotting up in election-bound Uttarakhand. For, both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress are roping in political bigwigs to boost their parties’ fortunes even as some Bollywood stars are likely to add glitz to an otherwise dull campaign in the hill state.

Hindi film actor Aamir Khan has already launched a campaign for clean-image candidates -- that, through automated calls. As for leaders, the line glitters with top shots like Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to senior BJP leader L K Advani -- all of them slated to address a series of political rallies.

The Congress, in its bid to cash in on the mass appeal of film stars, is banking on its leaders like one-time Bollywood sensation Raj Babbar, while the saffron party has already booked ex-actor Shatrughan Sinha, besides former dream girl Hema Malini and TV star Smriti Irani.

The Congress’ campaing would kickstart, with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi set to address a public rally at Tehri early next week -- on January 17. On earlier occasions in recent times, health reasons stopped Gandhi could not address a public rally at Gauchar in Garhwal region last month. She again failed to turn up — at Haldwani early this month — due to poor weather conditions.

After her would come the Prime Minister. Singh would address two rallies in Uttarakhand -- at Rishikesh and Rudrapur on January 20. After his successful rally at Derhadun last month, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi is also expected to address a series of rallies to drum up support for his party, which is locked in a close contest with BJP in the hill state.

Besides, Singh and the Gandhis, other senior Congress ministers and leaders like Pranab Mukherjee, Ghulam Nabi Azad and C P Joshi would seek votes for their party.

On the other hand, the BJP is banking on its top leaders like Murli Manohar Joshi, Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitely and Sushma Swaraj, besides, of course, veteran Advani.

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi is also expected woo voters on the name of Hindutva as well as development plank. Both, the Congress and the BJP are trying to contact other top stars like Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra to come to Uttarakhand.