Rediff Logo News Find/Feedback/Site Index
HOME | ELECTION | REPORT
August 16, 1999

NEWS
ANALYSIS
SPECIALS
INTERVIEW
CAMPAIGN TRAIL
ISSUES
GALLERY
MANIFESTOS
OVERHEARD
INDIA SPEAKS!
DISCUSSION GROUP
CHAT
PREVIOUS RESULTS

Stars take to the electoral firmament in TN

E-Mail this report to a friend

Come elections, the stars of the Tamil tinsel world jostle with politicians for electioneering. Film actress Revathi and comedian S V Shekhar are the latest addition to the list of star campaigners for the National Democratic Alliance candidates in Tamil Nadu. Both Revathi and Shekhar had entered the poll fray in the past and burnt their fingers. They have now chosen to undertake campaigning in support of the DMK-led front candidates in the state.

Revathi, who had unsuccessfully contested the South Madras Lok Sabha seat in 1996, announced a 17-day-long whirlwind tour of the state. She would commence her campaign on August 18 at Salem in support of Tamizhaga Rajiv Congress president Vazhapadi K Ramamurthy, and end it at Nagercoil.

Shekhar would begin his campaign at Tiruchirapalli, where Union Power Minister Rangarajan Kumaramangalam is seeking re-election and cover Tenkasi, Sivaganga, Coimbatore and Nilgiris. In the fray are film actor Chandrasekhar, who is a DMK nominee in Dindigul, and maverick actor Mansoor Ali Khan, the Puthiya Tamizhagam candidate, pitted against former state election commissioner K Malaisamy of the AIADMK in Ramanathapuram.

Tamil film heroes Sarath Kumar and Ramarajan, who had contested the last elections as the DMK and AIADMK nominees, were denied a ticket this time.

Meanwhile, another comedian, S S Chandran, who threw his lot with the Marumalarchi DMK ever since the party was formed by Vaiko, and had even contested the city mayoral election in 1996, has quit the party. He would be joining the AIADMK along with actor Radha Ravi, who had been a staunch supporter of the DMK.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report

HOME | NEWS | BUSINESS | SPORTS | MOVIES | CHAT | INFOTECH | TRAVEL | SINGLES
BOOK SHOP | MUSIC SHOP | GIFT SHOP | HOTEL RESERVATIONS | WORLD CUP 99
EDUCATION | PERSONAL HOMEPAGES | FREE EMAIL | FEEDBACK