BENGALURU: Clearing the air on his brush with politics, actor ‘Kiccha’ Sudeep on Wednesday announced that he will campaign for the BJP and its candidates wherever required, while extending his support to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.
Addressing a press conference along with the CM and other Cabinet ministers including Dr K Sudhakar and R Ashoka, Sudeep said, “I am not taking any political stand, but only extending my support to the CM. From my younger days and during the time when I was struggling in the film industry, only a few people stood by me and one of the main people was my dearest ‘mama’ Basavaraj Bommai. It is a connect, a duty and gratitude for this lovable person. I had no godfather when I entered films. During those days, ‘mama’ (Basavaraj Bommai) was making his entry into politics and I know him since then. I am very happy with the work done under his leadership and I admire his personality. Hence, I am declaring my support for him and I will also stand by some of my friends”, he said.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who also spoke, said, “Sudeep has not joined any political party, but by supporting me, he will be supporting my party. I spoke to him two-three times about campaigning for the party even if he doesn’t join the BJP. He has said that he will be doing it for my sake and he will campaign for the BJP”.
To a question, Sudeep said he will campaign for whoever the CM suggests. “But I cannot visit all the constituencies, I will go wherever I am required, as suggested by the CM”. To another question on whether he will campaign for candidates from other political parties, the actor said, “If there is anyone who has stood by me in my difficult days in other parties, I will campaign for them too. You can call it coincidence that Basavaraj Bommai is in the BJP. Those days, I did not even know he was with the BJP or, for that matter, that he was even a politician. I was too young then”.
The CM later thanked Sudeep for extending his support to him. “Since he is a very popular actor, we will chalk out his campaign programme as per his schedule. He has some ideas about the country and the state which he will divulge during the campaign. Sudeep extending support gives us huge strength and I welcome this. I also extend my gratitude to his parents Sanjeev and Saroja. Sudeep’s presence will electrify the campaign”, the CM added.