'Star wars' in Madhya Pradesh

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has submitted a detailed list of their 'star' campaigners for the Madhya Pradesh polls to the state election commission office.

Among those who would be asking for votes for the saffron party are actors-turned-politicians like Navjot Singh Sidhu, Shatrughan Sinha and Vinod Khanna. Also, Rajya Sabha MP Hema Malini and popular television actress Smriti Irani, who lost to Congress leader and Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal in Chandni Chowk in Delhi.

The Congress on the other hand is relying heavily on the charisma of party president Sonia Gandhi and general secretary Rahul Gandhi. Former chief minister Digvijay Singh and MPs from the state, Kamal Nath and Suresh Pachouri are the other key campaigners.

However, there are reports that actor-turned-politicians Govinda, Rajesh Khanna, Raj Babbar and Shabana Azmi would be campaigning for the party.

Realising that their 'star power' is less as compared to the ruling BJP, Madhya Pradesh Congress legal cell in-charge J.P. Dhanopia quipped: 'You can gather crowds by bringing cine stars for campaigning, but that would not fetch you votes.'