T’puram: From Ramesh Pisharody in Palakkad to Sudheer Karamana in Thiruvananthapuram to Anjali Nair in Tripunithura to TV actor Vivek Gopan in Aruvikkara, quite a few actors and those associated with the movies are contesting in the state elections.In addition to actors, Big Boss stars and social media influencers too are in the fray.The state is not known to favour celluloid stars but parties have confidently fielded quite a few, much more than the previous elections. Most of them are contesting for BJP and its ally Twenty20.However, unlike in neighbouring states, some of these celebrity candidates were not fielded for their star value alone but also for their rooted political stand too.The most famous among the contestants are minister Ganesh Kumar who is eyeing a sixth term from Pathanapuram. He has been into full time politics for years and his performance as transport minister too is expected to weigh in deciding his fate in the elections. LDF has fielded veteran actor Karamana Janardhananan Nair’s son Sudheer in Thiruvananthapuram banking on his fame as well as party background.Other notables are actor and producer Major Ravi (Ottapalam), actor Akhil Marar (Thrikkakara), playback singer Daleema Jojo (Aroor), Big Boss fame Robin Radhakrishnan (Kundara), actor Jibi Abraham (Piravom), Lakshmi Priya (Perumbavoor), social media influencer Promy Kuriakose (Angamaly), poet and scriptwriter Alankode Leelakrishnan (Thrissur).Though even top actors in the state may not fit the ‘celebrity’ bracket when it comes to the frenzy actor Vijay generates at every public appearance in Tamil Nadu, the actor-turned-candidates like Pisharody, Sudheer Karamana and Anjali Nair and others of their ilk draw a reasonable crowd and adoration wherever they go — much better than what the average politician gets.True to that, the parties fielding these candidates feel their fame from movies, TV serials, and reality shows will be a draw — especially among young voters.Congress’s social media coordinator P M Niyas said that fielding actors is useful. “We expect the people to vote for celebrities.”But experts feel that this was also the result of a change in politicking which has increasingly become focused on gaining traction on social media and television channels and also an increasing trend among youngsters to idolize stars.Writer and historian M G Sasibhooshan said that the focus in this election, where there is hardly any time for campaigning, is to win at any cost. “The parties wanted candidates familiar to the people. This is the reason for fielding actors, TV serial actors and influencers. They do not seem to be particular about celebrities. An easily recognizable face is the most important criteria,” he said.The parties are also not checking the past of these candidates, he added.“This is a changing trend. The parties are taking fame seriously. We will have to watch the results to see how the people will respond to this.”In the olden days, the parties used elections as an opportunity to honour and reward people who did groundwork and made sacrifices, he added.Politically aware people and party workers feel that fielding actors with no experience in party work may reduce winnability which has caused a criticism that such candidates may also help swing seats in favour of hardcore politicians.Heritage enthusiast Rajasekharan Nair said that a change is happening because the style of political work is changing. “It’s all playing out in social media and TV channels.”In the earlier days, politicians and party workers used to go door to door and educate the people about govt schemes, welfare measures, job opportunities and also organize people into societies for farmers, Dalits and others, he added.Actors are preferred because optics is being given more importance than groundwork, he said and added that there is hardly any vision and politics has become business.Starting from director Ramu Kariat to actor Suresh Gopi, people from the movie world entering the poll fray is not new for the state. Actor Mukesh had been a success in elections and so was actor-producer Mani C Kappan.However, superstars — including those from the old days — had stayed away from contesting, though actor Prem Nazir campaigned for Congress because the people had focused more on politics than on fame. That trend may be in for a change with this election, if the star candidates manage to win.
