A star-struck Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is banking on the popularity of Bengali film stars to woo voters in the Lok Sabha elections. She has already roped in popular Bengali film actress Shatabdi Roy and singer Kabir Sumon to contest elections. Talks are also on with film actress- turned-director Aparna Sen, Tapas Paul, painter Suvaprasanna and others as candidates for polls.

Mamata Banerjee’s link with Tollywood goes long back, as actors like Tapas Paul, Madhavi Mukherjee and Nayana Das have contested the Assembly elections on Trinamool tickets. It is, however, for the first time in Lok Sabha elections that she has announced her intention of looking for cine stars.

Banerjee’s links with cultural celebrities became prominent when many theatre and film personalities, painters, singers joined her in protest after the Nandigram episode when 14 people were killed in police firing and later when CPM cadres recaptured the area.

Partho Chatterjee, leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, said: “Banerjee is very popular in the cultural hub of Bengal. She herself is a painter. After Nandigram, many celebrities joined us in protest. Therefore it is natural that they will side with us and contest elections against the atrocities committed by the CPM government.”

“We are holding talks with others in the field of arts and culture to be our candidates,” added Chatterjee. Roy said: “I know and respect Mamata Banerjee, both as a person and as a political leader. I have been in touch with her for years and follow her ideals. She is trying to bring a change in the lives of the people. When she contacted me and asked me to contest for the Lok Sabha polls, I could not refuse.”

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