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Parties lure film stars

PALLAB BHATTACHARYA, from New Delhi
Come election and major political parties in India rush to rope in film stars faded and shining to shower glamour on the campaign and try to steal a march in the race to grab a space in the electorate's mind.
With the countdown having begun for parliamentary polls, ruling BJP is off the bloc in that race roping in a number of film, television and cricket stars and is looking for some more for its star-spangled electioneering.
The latest film personalities to join the BJP bandwagon are yesteryears star Jeetendra, popularly known as "Jumping Jack" for his ability to dance around trees in Hindi films, actor Suresh Oberoi, father of Bollywood superstar Vivek Oberoi, and former batsman Navjot Singh Sidhu.
All of them walked into the waiting arms of the saffron party yesterday hailing Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's leadership and reeling off the same line that BJP is the only party capable of taking India forward.
Along with Jeetendra, Suresh Oberoi and Sidhu, television actor Gajendra Singh Chauhan, who became a celebrity figure with his role of Yudhistir in the mega TV serial on the epic 'Maharbharat, also joined BJP.
Suresh Oberoi's father Anand Swarup Oberoi was an associate of legendary freedom fighter Shaheed Bhagat Singh.
Sidhu, who is now remembered more for his remarks as a TV commentator of cricket, said he would bat wholeheartedly for BJP in the elections. He deftly handled all questions by the media including one relating to allegations of corruption against a former chief of BJP.
Last week, noted actress and a handicapped danseuse Sudha Chandran, who shot into fame after the success of her debut Hindi film "Nache Mayuri" based on her life, joined BJP.
Film buffs will remember that Sudha Chandran, a Bharatnatyam dancer, became a handicapped person after meeting with a road accident several years ago but overcame the disability with an artificial foot to resume her career as a danseuse. Having acted in more than 70 films, she is now portraying the character of a vamp in a popular television soap opera.
Prior to Sudha, another well-known television actress Smriti Malhotra, playing the role of an ideal housewife in the hugely popular TV soap opera "Kyunki Saas Bhi Bhi Bahu Thi," also joined BJP.
The BJP already has a fair sprinkling of film personalities in its ranks Shatrughan Sinha and Vinod Khanna, both federal ministers,
dream girl Hema Malini, a party MP, and Dara Singh.
The party is also reportedly trying to secure Dharmendra, the former He man of Bollywood, in its ranks and persuade him to contest elections from a constituency in the desert state of Rajasthan which is dominated by Jat, the community the actor belongs to.
Not to be outdone, the main opposition Congress is also understood to be making efforts to induct reel-life actors to help boost the electoral prospects of their real life political actors.
The Congress is trying to rope in current Bollywood star Govinda not only for electioneering -- something the actor had done in the past for the party candidates, but also to contest parliamentary election from a constituency in India's commercial and film hub Mumbai.
Reports have it that Govinda may be fielded against India's Petroleum Minister and BJP nominee from that constituency Ram Naik.
The opposition party is also reportedly trying to get former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev. But the former all-rounder said yesterday that he is not planning to join any political party but would campaign for some of his 'best' friends across the political divide if asked to do so.