Anubhav, Siddhanta campaign for BJD

Reigning superstar Anubhav Mohanty, yesteryear’s matinee idol Uttam Mohanty and actor-turned-MP Siddhanta Mahapatra have hit the campaign trail seeking support for BJD candidates.

Siddhanta was first among the cine stars to jump into the campaign in the city. On Saturday, he started the campaign from ward No. 19 in Rasulgarh and then carried out the promotion of his party candidates in several other wards and sought vote for them.

Riding an open jeep decked up with conch-emblazoned flags, the Balunga Toka star drew crowds in Rasulgarh and GGP Colony. Fans fell over one another trying to shake hands with him.

“Even an actor is a voter and has certain responsibility towards betterment of the society and development of the city,” said the actor, who recently got engaged to long time girlfriend actress Varsha Priyadarshini. Talking about his immense popularity and huge turnout, he said: “It is not my magic, but the magic of the party.” He had joined BJD last year.

A BJD insider said that Siddhanta visited a slum in ward No. 61 where people were against the party. It was only after his attempt that the slum-dwellers assured him to support the BJD.

Yesteryear superstar Uttam Mohanty also joined the campaigning for the BJD today. He rallied around Shiripur. Another popular face, comic actor Papu Pam Pam, who has been busy with shooting, would take up the mantle on the last day of campaigning.

BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday hit the campaign trail in support of the Biju Janata Dal candidates in the January 8 polls to Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC).