Coming-up Bollywood buzz in Madhya Pradesh for by-elections
BHOPAL: Campaigning for the February 14 by-elections in Kukshi and Sonkatch assembly constituencies of Madhya Pradesh will invite some film and TV actors as both the BJP and Congress planning to rope in film and TV personalities to attract voters.
Opposition Congress is planning to invite actor and former party MP Govinda and Raj Babbar, whereas ruling BJP intends to bring actress Hema Malini and TV star Smita Irani. Congress sources said both Govinda and Raj Babbar would hit the campaign trail in Sonkatch, from where its candidate Arjun Varma, nephew of party MP, Sajjan Singh Verma is contesting.
By-elections in both the constituencies have become a matter of prestige for the BJP as they have traditionally returned Congress nominees in the past. Even in the 2008 assembly elections, Jamuna Devi of Congress had won from Kukshi while Sajjan Singh Verma was victorious from Sonkatch.
Apart from film stars both parties are also employing services of senior leaders to boost their prospects in the by elections.
From Congress side, party general secretary Digvijay Singh and Union ministers Kantilal Bhuria, Sachin Pilot and Arun Yadav have already held public meetings.
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia will address five public meetings at different places in the two constituencies, on the last day of campaigning.
Union Minister Kamal Nath is also scheduled to hold a road show in Sonkatch.
Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan would be the star campaigner for BJP for whom the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley will campaign in the two constituencies.
