‘Fallen star’ wants to shine again

With the spotlight on Lok Sabha polls and the BJP wooing filmstars and cricketers, its own erstwhile ‘‘star campaigner’’...

With the spotlight on Lok Sabha polls and the BJP wooing filmstars and cricketers, its own erstwhile ‘‘star campaigner’’ in Chhattisgarh, Dilip Singh Judeo, has posed a serious question to the party — whether he should contest for the Lok Sabha or stay away from the campaign.

Facing the CBI FIR in the cash-on-camera scam, the former Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests was feeling let down by the party. After he quit the Cabinet, he also lost the race for the chief ministerial post.

After a month-long isolation, Judeo was back in Raipur yesterday to lobby for a Lok Sabha ticket. He also took part in a meeting on poll preparedness, which was also attended by CM Raman Singh and state party chief Nand Kumar Sai. Here, Judeo made it clear that he wants to contest the LS elections.

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This morning, the former Union minister also met party chief Venkaiah Naidu and went to address a rally in Mahasamund.

When Naidu was asked by mediapersons if the party would field Judeo in Chhattisgarh, he said: ‘‘Judeo is a senior leader. We know how to utilise his services. Whether he remains in the Rajya Sabha or Lok Sabha, Judeo will continue to be a Member of Parliament.’’ Judeo’s current Rajya Sabha term ends in four months. His supporters say that if he is denied a ticket, Judeo might not be ready to campaign for the party.

At the rally in Mahasamund, hundreds of supporters raised slogans praising Judeo and pledged their support. On his part, Judeo said the time has come to ‘‘prove his innocence’’ in the people’s court. ‘‘have asked the party to allow me to contest the Lok Sabha. I will wait for their decision or orders to take the plunge,’’ he said.

Whether the party fields him or not, Judeo faces another roadblock to his candidature from Mahasamund as the BJP was thinking of leaving this seat for former Union minister V.C. Shukla. PM Vajpayee’s niece Karuna Shukla is also a contender here.

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Replying to a question whether the party was preparing for a pre-poll alliance with Shukla, Naidu said: ‘‘It was very much under consideration though no final decision has yet been taken. Shukla is very much in touch with the party.’’

In his next utterance, the BJP chief added: ‘‘We are also keen to field a woman candidate from one of the 11 LS seats in Chhattisgarh.’’

Judeo had organised his last Ghar-vapsi (de-conversion) camp for Dalits and Adivasis in 2003 in Mahasamund district. He plans to hold a similar camp on March 4 in an Orissa village neighbouring Mahasamund.