The ruling BJD seems to have lost its charm after popular cine actors- Akash Dasnayak, Sidhant Mohapatra, Arindam Roy and Anubhav Mohanty quit the party and joined the BJP ahead of the crucial 2024 elections in Odisha.
Though campaigning is already intensifying, BJD is now worried about how to gather crowds during its rallies and programmes. Hence, the ruling BJD has started to poach cine actors, actresses and comedians from Ollywood.
The BJD is almost left with no major crowd puller in the form of celebrities and actors after four of its popular faces deserted the party and switched camps in a short span of time.
These leaders were engaged by the party either by giving tickets or using them as star campaigners to sail through the 2019 battle. But in 2024, things have changed completely.
Worried about how to pull crowds, the BJD seems to be harping on actors who are now available.
On Friday, several actors, actresses, comedians and others were called to Naveen Niwas for a discussion. So be it popular actor Babushaan or comedian Papu Pom Pom, the BJD had called most of the Ollywood celebrities for a discussion and it is believed that the party will soon engage them for campaigning.
“We were invited and met the Chief Minister. A video on what developments have been made under 5T was shown,” informed actor Babushaan.
When asked whether he will campaign for BJD, the actor said, “You will know when time will come.”
Actress Supriya said, “Not only me, a lot of actors and comedians were called by the Chief Minister and VK Pandian. Discussion was held on how development in Odisha will be made.”
Comedian Pragyan said, “We discussed about campaigning. We have been asked to campaign about the development achieved by the government."
Why BJD Needs Help Of Ollywood Celebs?
Questions are now being asked why the BJD which has been in power in Odisha for the last 24 years has now sought the help of Ollywood actors and actresses.
Though BJD has star campaigners, why does the party need the Ollywood celebrities for campaigning? Is it that BJD has been left in a quandary after the exit of four superstars?
Senior journalist Prasanna Mohanty said, “BJD leaders always boast that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is star campaigner and he is enough. But now why the party needs the help of actors? Voters want parties to seriously fight elections and come up with issues.”
BJP Intensifies Target
One of the artiste friends and Rajya Sabha member had once said that all others are zero in front of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, said BJP leader Sidhant Mohapatra.
“I do not understand why CM has now called the actors who are zeros in the eyes of party leaders. It is not a sign of a healthy democracy,” Mohapatra added.
Meanwhile, BJD leaders could not be contacted over the matter.