But dreamgirl kicks up 'outsider-local' row

Hotting up the poll scene and triggering an 'outsider-local' debate, actress Hema Malini entered the fray from Karnataka for the lone Rajya Sabha seat as a combined opposition supported noted writer K Marulasiddappa's candidature invoking the 'Kannada pride'.


Hema mera naam: The actress-danseuse filing her nomination at the
Vidhana Soudha yesterday. She was accompanied by Chief Minister
B S Yeddyurappa. Pic/Ramesh HS

Minutes after Malini filed her nomination as a BJP candidate for the March 3 poll, the eminent Kannada writer filed his papers as an independent backed by Congress and JD(S).

The opposition's move is seen as an attempt to take advantage of the sentiment. "The pride of Kannada land needs to be upheld," said Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah (Congress). Malini said she would serve Karnataka and put in her best efforts in this regard.

On her choice reportedly angering a section of the party, she said that on occasions of lot of happiness, some anger goes hand-in-hand.

Supporting Malini's candidature, Yeddyurappa expressed the hope that she would be useful to advance Karnataka's cause in the RS. Eshwarappa slammed critics who sought to project her as an outsider.u00a0

"She's an artiste and a national asset. Trying to bracket them on the basis of state, language and caste, is not good. To send her to Rajya Sabha from Karnataka itself is a proud moment", he said.