Better halves battling for spouses
Bangalore: Even as some candidates are out in the battlefield with their nose at the front, the better halves of Nandan Nilekani, Ananth Kumar and Geeta Shivarajkumar, are doing their bit to ensure their spouses win in their respective parliamentary constituencies. Compared to Tejaswini Ananth Kumar, Rohini Nilekani is a novice and learning the trick of campaigning and building a rapport with the voters in Bangalore South constituency. Tejaswini is a seasoned and experienced of the two, who have been campaigning for her husband since 1988 with great success as is reflected in Ananth Kumar winning the seat five times earlier. Actor Shivarajkumar also is campaigning for his wife Geeta Shivarajkumar, contesting on JDS ticket from Shimoga. Shivarajkumar is a son of Kannada thespian late Rajkumar whose family had kept away from politics.
Raman’s son enters lS poll fray
Raipur: A low profile lok Sabha constituency - Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh is turning hot on political radar as Chief Minister Raman Singh's 33-year-old son Abhishek has been named as the BJP contestant from there, after the party denied ticket to its sitting MP Madhusudan Yadav. Initially, resentment among Yadavs was reported from various pockets of the region but later Madhusudan himself pacified them. Although the party is mainly banking on the simple and youth image of ‘junior Raman' to woo the voters, people from the region believe ‘Modi for PM' and ‘Raman factor' waves will also make it an easy ride for Abhishek. The CM's son, who holds an MBA degree, has been active in Rajnandgaon and Kawardha strongholds of BJP for past 6-7 years. He also managed BJP's campaign in the two districts during last year's Assembly polls.
look-alikes add glitz to electioneering in TN
Chennai: Adopting various ingenious strategies to attract crowds to rallies, political parties in Tamil Nadu are roping in look-alikes of leaders like MG Ramachandran, Jayalalithaa and M Karunanidhi to connect with the audience and add a dash of colour to the poll scene. Donning colourful robes the stalwarts were famous for and with a rich make-up, these artistes come live under the arc lights, perform song sequences, skits or deliver crisp dialogues loaded with the ‘punch element,’ to enthral the crowd. These look-alikes also perform the role of communicators to electorate for the political party that hires them.
Raza campaigns for Cong in Arunachal
Itanagar: Bollywood actor Raza Murad campaigned for the Congress candidates in Arunachal Pradesh. Murad campaigned for the Congress candidates in West Siang district and also in the state capital yesterday. Both lok Sabha elections and state assembly polls would be held simultaneously in Arunachal Pradesh on April 9. Showering praises on Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, Murad lauded the people for having Tuki at the helm of affairs and appealed not to let him down from the position ever.