DK Shivakumar offers LS poll ticket to actor Shivarajkumar, but latter declines politely

BENEGALURU: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday offered a ticket to  actor Shivarajkumar to contest for the Lok Sabha next year. Shivakumar made the offer at the Ediga Amrita Mahotsava programme at Palace Grounds.

“I have already told Shivanna to get ready for Parliament. Then he said, ‘No’, as he has already signed for five films. Films can be done at any time, but not everyone gets a chance to go to Parliament”, the Deputy CM added. “You should work for winning candidates and bless us in the Lok Sabha whether they are in Mangaluru, Udupi or North Karnataka”.

“My political career started with S Bangarappa and his passion will give us more strength. He brought the entire Ediga community together to form a Congress-led government in the state, except Mangaluru. We will fulfill our promises. We have shown that the Congress government is with you at today’s convention. Our philosophy is to help those who have helped us. Our government is with you”, the Deputy CM told the Ediga community.

He was responding to a question on allotting Rs 500 crore to the Ediga Development Corporation and said the Assembly did not make the announcement. “We have given our word in the manifesto of the Congress party and I will ensure that we fulfill it. Madhu Bangarappa caught the hook after six years, and now he is a minister. You have to work hard to win the maximum number of seats in the Lok Sabha. Voters in Mangaluru defeated Janardhan Poojary repeatedly, but this will not continue”, he said.

Shivarajkumar, however, gently refused the offer saying, “We don’t want to enter politics. I’ll continue with my passion for acting and entertaining people. That was what my father gifted us. Our part is just make-up and acting in movies. There are people who are meant for politics, but this is not my cup of tea. Bangarappa’s daughter is our house’s daughter-in-law. If Geetha is interested, let her do it, and I will stand by her. If Geeta wants to contest the election, let her go in that field, I will always be  there, he said”.