Actors promise to perform as leaders

: Film actors Mukesh, who has been fielded by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) as the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate in Kollam for the State Assembly elections, and Jagadish, the United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate fielded by the Congress in Pathanapuram, have said that there is nothing wrong in people associated with the cultural field joining politics “provided they perform for the people.”

Mr. Jagadeesh elaborated further saying “gone are the days when politics was considered to be the last resort of a scoundrel.”

The actors spoke to the media on their arrival to inaugurate the Jana Sabha-2016 programme of the Kollam Press Club on Tuesday.

Mr. Jagadish said film stars such as MGR, NTR, and Shabana Azmi had performed well as political leaders. However, there have been actors like Rekha who was very lethargic, they said.

Mr. Mukesh said by nature he was a person who enjoyed making people happy. “This is what I do in the entertainment sector and it is what I would do as a politician as well.”

He said the LDF candidature in Kollam was a turning point for him and he was “well aware of the new responsibilities I would have to shoulder.”

Both the candidates ridiculed the allegations that their candidatures were “payment seats.”