LIVE TV
India
Recommended Stories
Bhubaneswar: Cine star Bijay Mohanty who made a political foray by joining the Congress party here on Thursday expressed his willingness that he would contest Lok Sabha seat in the ensuing elections.
“I think my party and the state leadership would decide on which seat I would contest as I have no seat preference. But I have clarified the party that I would prefer to contest from any MP seat,” Mohanty said.
The veteran actor playing her popularity card as an actor said, “Wherever the party thinks I would be a suitable candidate, I am ready to contest since I like all the places across Odisha and they are equal for me,” added he.
After Mohanty joined the party at Congress Bhavan here, Odisha PCC president Jaydev Jena told reporters, "We welcome Bijay Mohanty. We had earlier requested the veteran film star to join the party. The party needed him."
Jena said the party's prospects in the coming elections would be boosted with the actor joining it.
Speculations are rife that the Congress is keen to field the veteran actor from Bhubaneswar seat using his star power while Aparajita Mohanty, who began her political debut with Congress few days back is most likely to contest from Cuttack constituency.
On being asked what prompted him to join the party at a time when it’s dismal show in the recently concluded urban elections has become a worry for the party's Central leadership, Mohanty said, “I received an invitation from the party and I felt wanted for it. Besides, I like the Congress party.”
“There is no reason behind entering into politics. But I believe this is a platform through which I can give something back to the people who have given me name, fame and everything as an actor. Truly, I have done nothing for my people and time has come to serve the people of Odisha,” he stated.
Political observers however feel these film stars’ entry into the electoral battle in favour of the Congress will add colour to the star war in the background that the ruling BJD has already taken actor Anubhav Mohanty and comedian Popu Pom Pom into its fold.
