May 21st 2024.
Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha, is currently abuzz with the presence of celebrities from the Indian film industry. With the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections taking place simultaneously, political parties are leaving no stone unturned to attract voters. In this pursuit, many parties have turned to Bollywood stars to add a touch of glamour and appeal to their campaigns.
While stalwarts like Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are campaigning for their respective parties, other leaders are also utilizing the 'star power' to their advantage. Just recently, the BJD's Jharsuguda Assembly candidate Dipali Das and Sundargarh Assembly nominee Jogesh Singh brought in Bhagyashree and Neil Nitin Mukesh to sway voters in their districts.
The BJP, on the other hand, has roped in veteran actress Hema Malini, fondly known as the 'Dream Girl' of Bollywood, to campaign in cities like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Deogarh. Not to be outdone, the Odia film industry has also joined in on the action. Popular actors like Babushaan Mohanty, Elina Samantaray, Sabyasachi Mishra, Archita Sahu, and many others have been seen campaigning for their respective parties.
Even the younger stars have joined the political bandwagon, with actors like Sivani Sangita, Sailendra Samantaray, and Suryamayee Mohapatra campaigning for BJD candidates. Both the BJD and BJP have released a list of 'star campaigners' for Odisha, including the aforementioned actors and many others.
These celebrities have become a major crowd puller in the ongoing elections and can be seen accompanying party leaders in different districts. However, this year, the Odia film industry seems to be a little divided as some prominent personalities, who were once part of the BJD, have switched sides to join the BJP. This includes big names like Anubhav Mohanty, Arindam Roy, Sidhanth Mohapatra, and Akash Das Nayak.
With the elections in Odisha drawing to a close on May 13, the impact of these stars on the final outcome remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure, the blend of politics and showbiz is becoming increasingly common in Indian elections, and Bhubaneswar is no exception.
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