Outsider Hema is BJPs RS candidate in Karnataka

Actor and dancer Hema Malini will contest as the BJP candidate against veteran Kannada writer and theatre exponent K Marulasidappa.

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Actor and dancer Hema Malini will contest as the BJP candidate against veteran Kannada writer and theatre exponent K Marulasidappa,who has been fielded jointly by the Congress and JD(S) in the March 3 polls to a vacant Rajya Sabha seat from Karnataka. With the BJP,which enjoys the numbers in the current legislature,supporting outsider Hema Malini,amid a campaign against her candidature by local pro-Kannada groups,the JD(S) and Congress came together to cash in on a political opportunity by fielding a respected local personality.

Hema Malini emerged as the BJP central leaderships choice despite beleaguered Chief Minister Yeddyurappa and other local leaders wanting their own candidates for the Rajya Sabha seat that fell vacant following the death of JD(S) leader M V Rajashekhar Murthy. The BJPs choice of Hema Malini as its candidate has resulted in groups such as the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike staging protests during the recent visit of BJP national president Nitin Gadkari here.

On Monday,Hema Malini filed her nomination amid tight police security in the presence of Yeddyurappa. State party president K S Eshwarappa said that she would work to promote cultural activities in the state. The actress shrugged off the outsider tag by saying,Wherever there is happiness there will be sadness and wherever there is sadness there will be happiness.

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Chief Minister Yeddyurappa said that Hema Malini is the partys choice and that theres no difference of opinion on her candidature within the state unit.

The JD(S)-Congress combine is depending on those opposed to Hema Malini from the BJP voting against her in the polls. JD(S) leaders said that they were awaiting a decision of the Supreme Court against 11 disqualified BJP MLAs. If the disqualified MLAs win their cases and return to the Assembly for the Rajya Sabha polls then the JD(S)-Congress combine can win the seat with their support, a JD(S) leader said.

The BJP has the support of 108 MLAs,including a nominated member and the Speaker,while the Opposition has 98 on its side in the 206 member Assembly.