Inclusion of cine stars in political parties has not gone down well with the political workers at the grassroots here. Describing it as an unhealthy trend, many workers have said that though they are against it, they are not able to come out openly since the decision is of the top leadership.
Recently many film stars and TV artists have joined major political parties like BJD, BJP and Congress. “But what is the shortfall within us,” asked many workers cutting across party line.
“We are struggling since our student career with the hope that one day we will get chances to contest elections. But with entry of film stars and retired bureaucrats our hopes have been dashed,” a few youths said with heavy hearts.
Film stars are great in their own way and profession. They are also popular as they are celebrity personalities. Hence, they need to think when political parties try to use them and convert their popularity to vote politics, suggested young leaders aspiring for getting tickets from their respective parties. “But inclusion of cine artists and retired bureaucrats is not at all a healthy trend,” said Surya Kumar Panigrahi, an active youth leader of BJP.
Panigrahi is also very critical of the retired bureaucrats. They have enjoyed lives on Government exchequer for about 30-35 years. During their service career, they only thought about their personal growth.
And after retirement, they now want to enjoy life grabbing political posts. Hence, political parties need to evaluate their career records as they have faced many charges and even vigilance traps during their service period, Panigrahi suggested.
“Taking cine star and retired bureaucrats also shows the weakness of all the parties as it tells that they lack leaders in them in the grassroots. At the same time, they have failed to create leadership in youths,” opined another youth.
“The very aim of youth Congress is to create future leadership for the party. But the seniors have always misused youth Congress and now hiring cine stars for survival,” said a Youth Congress leader here.