Shivarajkumar has already campaigned extensively in Shimoga district for the Congress and was seeking votes in Varuna in Mysore district on Thursday along with former chief minister Siddaramaiah. (News18)
Iconic Kannada actor Rajkumar faced pressure from Indira Gandhi and declined the opportunity to join politics as he did not want to disappoint any of his fans. Today Shivrajkumar, the heir to Rajkumar’s legacy, is campaigning for the Congress in the Karnataka elections 2023.
In the early 1980s, actor Rajkumar was at the height of his popularity and was turned into a deity by leading the Gokak movement, demanding the primacy of Kannada in all spheres of public life.
He was under immense pressure to follow the model of superstars from his friends and neighboring states – MGR in Tamil Nadu and NTR in Andhra Pradesh. But the prince withstood the pressure and declined the opportunity to join politics, saying he was above party politics and had fans from all walks of life.
Later, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi tried to involve him, but in vain. According to Bhagwan, his close friend and director of several of his films, when Rajkumar went to New Delhi, realized he was at the AICC headquarters, refused to meet the leaders and returned home.
Some of his fans were completely disappointed, others heaved a sigh of relief. A few years later, his eldest son and actor Shivarajkumar married Geetha, daughter of S. Bangarappa, a veteran of Karnataka politics. Once again the news of his entry into politics started coming. But the prince remained neutral, staying away from politics until his death 16 years ago.
cut in 2023
the most important assembly elections in karnataka Seeing something unusual. Shivrajkumar, currently the head of the famous princely family and heir to his father’s legacy, is campaigning Congress across the state.
His wife Geeta recently joined the Congress and courted controversy by touching the feet of KPCC president DK Shivakumar. Rajkumar’s fans call it an insult to their idol.
His two brothers – Madhu and Kumar – are once again facing each other at Soraba, the family estate in Shimoga district. The constituency has been held by the family since 1967, except in 2008–2013.
Shivrajkumar has already campaigned extensively in Shimoga district for the Congress and was accompanied by the former chief minister Siddaramaiah Seeking votes at Varuna in Mysore district on Thursday.
Taking objection to this, BJP MP from Mysore-Kodagu Prathap Simha said: “Rajkumar is a respected figure for all Kannadigas. His family was above party politics. Shivrajkumar is now campaigning for the Congress. It is not right.” We have no objection to his wife Geetha campaigning for the Congress as she is Bangarappa’s daughter.
Defending his decision to campaign, Shivrajkumar said that he has not joined any political party and is campaigning on his own. During election campaign, he stays away from talking about politics and only requests voters to choose a particular candidate.
“I am not a boy. I am 61 years old. I have some respect for my age. I do not need to impress anyone to campaign for the Congress,” he said in Shimoga on Friday morning.
His wife Geeta contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Shimoga on a JDS ticket and came third against BJP’s BS Yeddyurappa.
His youngest brother and Kannada superstar Puneeth Rajkumar, who died at a young age last year, was also under immense pressure to join politics. But he kept himself away from the temptation of power.
Shivrajkumar may or may not get votes for Congress. But they are drawing huge crowds everywhere. Most of the people come to see him because of their love for the prince.
After his release from forest robber Veerappan’s 108-day custody in 2000, Rajkumar told this journalist about his disillusionment with politics. “I am just an actor. I am not a politician or an educated man. I love all Kannadiga people, irrespective of their political affiliation. They do the same to me. If I were to live in the 1980s Had I entered politics at the beginning of 2015, I would have disappointed all of them,” he had said.
Since his death in 2006, much water has flowed into the two great rivers Krishna and Kaveri. There have also been many changes in the Rajkumar family.
Will Shivrajkumar join the Congress once the Karnataka elections are over?
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