Prakash Raj, who announced his plan to join politics this New Year, has said that he will contest as an independent candidate in the 2019 general elections from the Bengaluru Central constituency. He took to Twitter to make the announcement.
#2019 PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS.Thank you for the warm n encouraging response to my new journey.. I will be contesting from BENGALURU CENTRAL constituency #KARNATAKA as an INDEPENDENT..will share the Details with the media in few days..#citizensvoice #justasking in parliament too… pic.twitter.com/wJN4WaHlZP
— Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) January 5, 2019
Gandhi Nagar, Charajpet, Sarvagnanagar, Shanti Nagar, Rajaji Nagar, CV Raman Nagar, Shivajinagar and Mahadevapura are the eight constituencies that fall under Bengaluru Central. According to an NDTV report, Prakash Raj is likely to contest against BJP’s PC Mohan who has held the seat from 2009.
The actor has been extremely critical of BJP’s policies, and has even said that Bollywood has stopped offering him roles for the same reason. He condemned his friend and journalist Gauri Lankesh’s murder by right-wing forces.
He criticised the Modi government about the Sabarimala issue, for not helping during the floods, and during many other occasions. He was one of the few to condemn the attack on JNU student Umar Khalid. He has actively supported the #MeToo movement in the film industry.
He has been campaigning using the hashtag #JustAsking, something he started during Karnataka elections last year to ask questions to pro-Karnataka organisations, and to encourage people to ask questions. He has also slammed Tamil Nadu’s AIADMK government during Sterlite protests and Sarkar controversy.
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After Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan announced their entry into politics in the last two years, Prakash Raj has hinted his entry into politics several times. He has also said that he does not favour any political party.
Last year, on January 1, he said will contest elections if someone challenged him to. “Of late, communal politics is gaining importance in the country… We must not let this happen. If someone challenges me to take a plunge into politics, I am ready for it.”
In November he said he was against the idea of actors turning politicians. Without taking names, he said, “I don’t like actors joining politics because they are actors and have fans. They should always stay aware of their responsibility towards them.” He further said, “I’m not joining any political party.”