Kerala election | Silver Screen Stardust in Focus This Election Season

A genie finally broke up in the 2014 general elections. Actor Innocent’s stunning victory in Chalakudy was perhaps the first in Kerala for a film star with no political legacy.

Even when other southern states such as Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh chose popular stars as chief ministers, Malayalis preferred to view cinema and politics differently. They loved their stars, but perhaps not enough to make them MPs or MLAs for their stardom.

Even the innocent victory over the then Congress PC Chacko as an independent candidate supported by the Left Democratic Front. But his massive popularity as an actor is also counted: In the last elections, Congress candidate KP Dhanapalan won the election with a margin of over 70,000 votes.

Innocent did what the late fellow actor Murali could not. The National Award winner contested from Alappuzha as CPI (M) candidate in the 1999 parliament elections, but lost to VM Sudheeran of Congress.

Two years later, KB Ganesh Kumar of the United Democratic Front won from Pathanapuram in the assembly elections, and then three times, but apparently he had more to do with his political legacy – the son of R. Balakrishna Pillai. – From stardom. In the last assembly elections, his main rival was both actors – Jagdish (Congress) and Bhiman Raghu (BJP). In that year’s elections, actor Mukesh was seen winning from Kollam on a CPI (M) ticket. The victory of the innocent seems to have convinced both the cine-stars and the political parties.

This time again with Mukesh, contesting from Kollam, his straws have town colleagues Dharmajan (from Balusari for Congress), Suresh Gopi (Thrissur, BJP) and Krishnakumar (Thiruvananthapuram, BJP). Also, playback singer Dalema Jojo, who rose to fame for her voice, that of veteran singer S.W. Similar to Janaki, Arur is the CPI (M) candidate for the seat.

new faces

In the last elections in Kerala, not all the stars have come this time, while some political parties have also participated in the campaign. Devan, who could not make much of an edge after floating his own party, joined the BJP, while Ramesh Pisharodi, who made a successful comic act with Dharmajan, joined the Congress (I). Before long, Edwavela Babu and director Major Ravi, who were earlier vocal supporters of the BJP, were chosen by Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala at the Congress’ state-wide rally. Actor-tourist Srinivasan and director Siddiqui have joined the advisory board of the corporate-backed political party Twenty20, which is now debuting in the assembly elections.

Kerala has indeed come a long way since the days when the world record-making young artist Prem Nazir decided not to contest elections despite joining the Congress. At the time, a senior Congress leader had said: “He is a good man. But if we put Nazir in the Kerala election campaign, it will backfire on us. ‘

After three decades, no political leader is likely to make such a conclusion.