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Guwahati: Assembly
elections in Assam next year should have a fair sprinkling of
stardust with several showbiz personalities expressing their
interest in contesting the polls and political parties,
particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), also making an
effort to woo them.
Veteran Assamese film star Nipon Goswami was the first to announce
his interest in politics, particularly his dream to contest the
assembly elections on the ruling Congress party ticket.
"I am interested in doing something for the people and the fact of
the matter is that certain amount of power is required to fulfill
such a dream," Goswami told IANS.
"I always had a soft corner for the Congress party and so
naturally Congress would be my first choice and if the leadership
thinks I am suitable as a candidate I am ready for a plunge into
politics."
Goswami has acted in 50-odd Assamese films spanning a successful
30-year career as the lead male cast. He is seeking nomination
from the Tezpur assembly constituency in Sonitpur district in
northern Assam, his birthplace.
Like Goswami, veteran action hero Brojen Bora is also ready to
dabble in politics.
"I am prepared and very confident of a political career and would
be happy if given a ticket from either Sivasagar (birthplace) or
Guwahati (currently settled in the city)," said Bora, who has
joined the BJP as a member.
"I don't think politics is bad. People could really do good work
being in politics," Bora said.
Youngsters too are in the reckoning - popular Assamese film hero
Jatin Bora has got feelers from the BJP.
"The BJP has offered me a seat to contest the polls. I have not
decided as yet, but yes I would say; I don't dislike politics,"
Bora said.
Popular singer Vidya Sagar too is hobnobbing with the BJP,
although he is yet to formally announce his decision to join
electoral politics.
There is also talk of Suman Haripriya, a young Assamese film
director, being fielded as a BJP candidate from the Guwahati East
assembly constituency.
Suman is the daughter of Bijoya Chakravarty, BJP MP in the Lok
Sabha representing Guwahati and a former central minister.
"People with glamour always attract voters and there are instances
in India's political history of film personalities joining active
politics," a senior BJP leader said.
The Congress, however, doesn't seem very interested in roping in
film personalities to either contest or campaign.
"We don't want the Hema Malinis to be campaigning for us, we have
many beautiful Hema Malinis in our villages and towns. We are
happy with the local beauties," Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told
IANS in a jocular tone.
Elections in Assam are expected some time in March-April next
year.
(Syed Zarir Hussain can be contacted at zarir.h@ians.in)
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