Hema Malini files papers for RS polls

Mangalore Today News Network

Bangalore, Feb 22: The veteran actor Hema Malini of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Kannada writer K. Marulasiddappa, an independent candidate supported by the Opposition — the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) — on Monday filed their nomination papers for the byelection to the Rajya Sabha from the State.

Accompanied by Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, State BJP president K.S. Eshwarappa and Ministers, the 62-year-old actor filed her nomination papers before Returning Officer and Secretary of the Legislative Assembly S.B. Patil at the State secretariat on the last day for the filing of papers.

Surprise choice

Ms. Hema Malini’s surprise choice for the seat had led to dissatisfaction among a section of the BJP in the State, as she is seen as an “outsider”.

Draped in a gold-coloured sari, Ms. Hema Malini was the cynosure of all eyes and spent time talking to BJP leaders.

Draws a crowd

Her arrival at the Vidhana Soudha resulted in people thronging the place to have a glimpse of the actor. Most of the Ministers of the Yeddyurappa Cabinet were also present.

Speaking to the media, she said, “I am very happy. I thank the State BJP for fielding me as the party candidate. I will understand a lot of things and I will do a lot of things for Karnataka.”

Asked about the discontent in the party for fielding her as the party nominee, she said, “I have not angered anybody. Happiness and unhappiness go hand in hand. I have been associated with Karnataka for so many years as an artiste. Other partymen are bound to get a chance sometime later.”

Prof. Marulasiddappa (71), former head of the Department of Kannada of Bangalore University, filed the papers in the presence of Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah, State Congress president G Parameshwara, and JD(S) leader H.D. Revanna.

While Ms. Hema Malini filed two sets of papers, her opponent, Prof. Marulasiddappa, filed four sets of papers. The byelection has been necessitated by the death of the former Union Minister M. Rajasekhara Murthy on December 6.

Independents in fray

T.D.R. Harishchandra Gowda and K. Padmarajan, independents, have also filed their papers without any proposers. Their papers are likely to be rejected during scrutiny on Tuesday.

Before the announcement of Ms. Hema Malini’s candidature, the name of the former Union Minister of State for Finance V. Dhananjaya Kumar, who is the State’s Special Representative in New Delhi, was doing the rounds. Ms. Hema Malini completed her first term in the Rajya Sabha in 2009. Prof. Marulasiddappa said he had entered the fray as a matter of principle.

“Contesting elections is important in democracy.” It is incorrect to paint all politicians with the same “polluted brush”, he said.

‘Victory for women’

The Chief Minister expressed happiness over the candidature of Ms. Hema Malini and termed it a “victory for women”. Thehindu