Odisha Elections 2024: Exodus Of Ollywood Stars From BJD, Some Join BJP; Will They Contest?

Bhubaneswar: It has all along been showtime during elections in Odisha. Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are always prominently decorated by glamorous celebrities from the tinsel world who add a dash of colour and glitz to the stage in the state.

From superstars to television celebrities and from comedians to playback singers, members of the Ollywod always make their presence felt during elections.

Amid hectic political activities ahead of the twin elections in the state, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has witnessed the departure of several Ollywood stars from the party fold. While sitting MP Anubhav Mohanty and former MLA Akash Das Nayak resigned from the regional party on Saturday, former MP Sidhant Mahapatra and actor Arindam Roy had quit the outfit a few days ago.

While the exodus of actors appears to have reduced star glitz in the ruling BJD to some extent, some of these Ollywood members have joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), adding glamour to the saffron party in the run up to the elections. Sidhant Mahapatra, who was Lok Sabha member from Berhampur for two consecutive terms from 2009 to 2019, has joined BJP after quitting BJD.

Similarly, Arindam has also joined the saffron party and now speculations are rife that Anubhav and Akash may also enter the saffron brigade to try their electoral fortune. While some of them are likely to jump into the fray to fight the elections, others will add glamor and glitz by campaigning for different political parties.

However, one has to wait and see how many cine-stars are going to take a plunge into active politics and contest either Lok Sabha or Assembly elections in the state this time. A close look at the history of Odisha politics shows that not many from silver screen have been able to gain major achievement in politics. It is definitely going to be testing times for Ollywood stars.

In 2019 elections, actors Anubhav, Pinky Pradhan and Papu Pom Pom had contested the elections. However, only Anubhav had won from Kendrapada Lok Sabha constituency on BJD ticket defeating BJP’s Baijayant Panda. This time, BJD has nominated former MLA Anshuman Mohanty, who quit Congress and joined the ruling party recently, for Kendrapada seat. After being allegedly sidelined in BJD and denied ticket by the ruling party, the actor-turned-politician quit the regional party on Saturday.

Similar was the story of another Ollywood star Sidhant Mahapatra, who had defeated political heavyweight Chandra Sekhar Sahu in Berhampur Lok Sabha constituency after being fielded by BJD. He represented Berhampur from 2009 to 2019 after winning two successive Lok Sabha polls. However, After Chandra Sekhar Sahu quit Congress and joined BJD, the ruling party fielded him as its candidate from Berhampur in 2019, denying ticket to Sidhant. After a five-year wait, the actor quit BJD and joined BJP. However, it is not certain whether the party would nominate him for any seat.

Like past elections, the upcoming polls will have a big determining role on the future of Ollywood actors in state politics. Since 2000, except veteran leader Prashant Nanda, no other actor has won Assembly or Lok Sabha polls from any party except the BJD. Prashant Nanda won on a BJP ticket in 2000 and later as NCP candidate in 2009.

Noted actor Bijay Mohanty and Aparajita Mohanty had contested Lok Sabha elections from Bhubaneswar and Cuttack in 2014 on Congress tickets, but both lost. Aparajita again contested Assembly election from Bhubaneswar North on BJP ticket in 2019, but lost.

On the other hand, Anubhav, Akash and Sidhant have won elections as BJD candidates in past elections. The three are likely to contest the upcoming polls. It is to be seen whether they secure party tickets to fight the polls