Glamour quotient in JD(S) has a short shelf life

Though many film stars join the party, they do not stay there for long

Former Union Minister M.H. Ambareesh.

It appears that film stars who join the Janata Dal (Secular), hoping to make a mark in the political arena, soon desert the party, perhaps because they do not reap the expected benefits.

The former Chief Minister, H.D. Kumaraswamy, who produced a few films in Kannada, has a special connection with the film industry and has tried to bring in the glamour quotient by persuading actors to join the JD(S).

Actor Rakshita, who quit the JD(S) and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is the latest addition to the list.

Before her, actors such as the former Union Minister M.H. Ambareesh, Malavika and Pooja Gandhi deserted the party after brief stints.

Though Mr. Ambareesh entered politics through the Congress, he later joined the Janata Dal and was elected to the 12th Lok Sabha from Mandya Lok Sabha constituency. He subsequently rejoined the Congress after quitting the Janata Dal (Secular). However, he did not make any allegations of neglect.

Ms. Pooja Gandhi joined the JD(S) in January and was appointed working president of its youth wing. However, she left the JD(S), accusing the party leaders of not supporting her when BJP leader Ayanur Manjunath criticised her. “No JD(S) leader came to my support when I was called names,” she said, before joining the Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP). Ms. Malavika, who joined the JD(S) in March 2012, severed ties with the party after one year and nine months and joined the BJP.

Attributing the reason for her leaving the party to “disappointment”, she refused to elaborate on the matter. Now the actor is serving as the official spokesperson of the BJP.

Allegation

Ms. Rakshita alleged that JD(S) leaders had let her down by not considering her candidature for the Mandya Lok Sabha constituency. She alleged that though national president of the JD(S) Deve Gowda and Mr. Kumaraswamy had promised to field her in Mandya, they had instead favoured C.S. Puttaraju. Disgusted with the developments, she left the party.

On the other hand, actor Shivarajkumar, husband of JD(S) candidate from Shimoga Lok Sabha constituency Geetha Shivarajkumar, has decided to campaign only for his wife.

He has made it clear that he will not campaign for party leaders, including Mr. Gowda and Mr. Kumaraswamy.