The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), ahead of the coming elections to the lok Sabha and the State Assembly, continues to net in eminent persons from various sections to its fold.
In its latest move, the saffron party would induct two veteran Odia movie stars at one of its ‘Misran Parbas’ (induction ceremonies) on Saturday here, informed party spokesperson Pitambar Acharya on Friday.
Actor Mihir Das, who was campaigning for the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the last year’s panchayat elections and vociferously claiming that it would be a victory for ‘Sankha’ (the BJD’s poll symbol), is set to join the BJP on Saturday.
The other Ollywood artist to join the BJP is Anu Choudhury, who said that being “inspired by Narendra Modi’s ideals” she has decided to come to the party fold.
Mihir Das, without referring to his earlier pro-BJD stance, said he wanted to plunge into politics and lo and behold a call has now come to from the BJP to enable him to “serve the people directly instead indirectly being in the films”. He added that he would “devote the rest of his life in public life”.
“It is unfortunate that Odisha is categorised as a backward State. Besides, the State Government hasn’t taken any step towards development of art and culture,” the actor said.
In reply to media questions, both Das and Anu Choudhury said it is up to the party leadership to decide if they would fight elections or work in other positions.
Besides the two actors, former Satyabadi MlA Ramaranjan Baliarsingh, who recently resigned from the primary membership of the BJD, will also join the BJP on Saturday at the party State headquarters here in the presence of top senior party leaders, including Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.