Kannada actor-director Upendra, on Saturday, announced that he will be launching a political party. The 48-year-old actor, who has directed 10 films and acted in over 45, is one of the influential figures of the Kannada film industry. The actor also announced his party, which is yet to be named, will contest the 2018 assembly elections.
The actor, known for his idiosyncratic movies said, he will be creating to ‘religionless, casteless and cashless’ political party. The sudden announcement has although created interest among people, it is yet to make ripples politically.
In what seemed like a script of an idealistic political movie, the actor, who came dressed in Khaki, said that three email ids have been made public, where people can send their resumes and ideas. His party, he said, will be based on the suggestions made by people who would approach him. Qualified candidates will be selected and their details will be made public.
Although he claimed the party will not have a party fund, he failed to explain how the party’s daily works would be financed.
His wife and prominent Kannada actress Priyanka Upendra later clarified that the idea of a cashless political party is about not taking funds from lobbyist and not spending large sums on political rallies. “We would use his fame and social media to reach out to people,” she said.
I don’t want people shouting slogans outside my house, but I want people, who have ideas on how to bring a change, to meet meUpendra
Upendra said once his current movie commitments are done, he will be working full time for the new political party. “Democracy and politics are rock sciences… People don’t want political rallies, flex boards. People have their own understanding of politics. I want things to happen on ground and it to be transparent,” he said.
Upendra, who is known to be a Modi fan, was rumoured to meet BJP President Amit Shah, who is on three-day visit to Bengaluru. The actor, however, dismissed the rumours.
To questions on the possibility of his party joining hands with other mainstream political parties, he said: “Several people have approached me, but I believe I will get lost in that vicious cycle of politics, so no.”
Over the last few days, the actor has been active on social networking platforms. From I-T department raids on Karnataka Energy Minister DK Shivakumar to the Doklam standoff, the actor made several political statements.
In a 13-minute audio clip released a day before, he said: “We have to be honest right from the beginning of our efforts to make our dreams in politics come true. We should do away with the concept of ‘party fund’. We don’t need Rajakiya (politics), but Prajakiya (people-centric democracy).”
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