Bypoll race hots up as screen veterans bat for star candidates

Kolkata: While Trinamool Congress may have fielded stars in Shatrughan

Sinha

and Babul

Supriyo

for the April 12 bypolls, the opposition parties have fielded “stars” to campaign for their candidates. Sinha and Supriyo, both former Union ministers, are Trinamool candidates in the Asansol Lok Sabha and Ballygunge assembly seats.Actor Naseeruddin

Shah

and his wife Ratna Pathak — in two separate videos — have appealed to voters in Bengal to choose Shah’s niece

Saira

Shah Halim, the Left Front candidate, in Ballygunge over Supriyo, whom Shah referred as an “opportunist turncoat”. Babul said: “I have nothing to say on this. I have grown up watching his films. This is an uncle speaking about his own niece. What can I say about it?” “Naseeruddin Shah is simply using his image to plead for votes for his niece. People in Bengal know these tactics and won't fall prey to such messages,” said senior Trinamool MLA Debasis Kumar.Shah’s video message comes two days after actor Mithun Chakraborty had aired a video message in support of BJP candidate and celebrity designer Agnimitra Paul, who is contesting from Asansol against veteran actor Sinha, prompting Sinha to retort back, “Mithun Chakraborty? Is he still in politics? I wish him all the best.”“I am here in pure individual capacity to support the candidature of Saira Shah Halim for the upcoming Ballygunge byelection. Being the daughter of my brother, I have known her since a child. But family ties aside, I have always found her to be courageous, committed, caring and a person of integrity who is always eager to help the less fortunate. She has been outspoken in her criticism in certain causes and a vocal defender of others,” said Shah in the 1 minute 27 seconds video that comes with a Bengali subtitle. Shah also said, “The choice before the voters of Ballygunge is a clear one. Would you like your representative to be a caring, compassionate and committed person who is willing to work for you or would you prefer a turncoat opportunist who is also a serial hatemonger? Please go out and vote and think deeply before you vote.”Saira said: “He airing his views makes a lot of difference. He is someone who carries a lot of weight while critiquing issues and talking about any other issues. He always raises a lot of concerns. His message will have a lot of impact in the election,” said Saira.On April 2, Mithun Chakraborty had said: “Agni is my younger sister. She is a caring and courageous woman. She comes from a good family and doesn’t need money. She is not here for money but she genuinely wants to work for people in Bengal. Give her a chance.”