Star war hots up for Berhampur LS seat

It is now star war in prestigious Berhampur Lok Sabha seat in south Orissa. This follows the BJD’s decision to field veteran Oriya film actor Sidhant Mohapatra to challenge the veteran Congress leader and the Union minister of state for rural development, Chandra Sekhar Sahu in this seat.

To inject glamour into the political campaign, Mohapatra has roped in noted actors and actresses of Oriya films while the Congress party has brought cine stars of Oriya, Bengal and Telugu cinema for its campaign. The Congress party roped in Rachana Banerjee and noted Telugu actress Sharada

The BJP is also not far behind in this glamour campaign. The party’s star campaigner Hema Malini has already campaigned for the party’s nominee Bharat Parik. Moreover, Shatrughan Sinha is also scheduled to address an election rally here on Tuesday.

Rachana who staged road-shows on Saturday stole the show in the Silk city.

“I only tell the people to vote for the Congress. I have known Chandra Sekhar Sahu since long last and I decided to campaign for him this time” Rachana told before she has taken Berhampur by storm.

Sidhant, however, is unfazed over the campaign of Rachana, once his co-artist in Oriya films. “Rachana had left Orissa for some years. I think the people do not accept her appeal, while I am in the state and also with the people”, said Sidhant.

Interestingly, Rachana-Sidhant pair hogged the limelight in the Oriya cine industry before they separated in 2004 in a family court. Rachana is now acting in Bengali and Telugu films.

Close on heels of Rachana’s campaign Sidhant on Sunday roped in another noted Oriya cine star Anubhav for his campaign. Anubhav and some other artists staged road shows for the BJD candidate here. Earlier, Sidhant had also got support from glamorous artists like Kajol Mishra and some others for his campaign.

At the same time, the Congress party had engaged noted Telugu actress Sharada on Sunday. Sharada, the actress turned politician hit the campaign trail through road-shows. It may be noted that about 35 per cent of the people of the Berhampur parliamentary constituency is Telugu-speaking.