Kannada writer takes on Hema Malini in Rajya Sabha polls
By IANSMonday, February 21, 2011
BANGALORE - Yesteryears film actress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vice president Hema Malini Monday filed her nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections from Karnataka.
She will face noted Kannada writer K. Marulasiddappa, who is contesting as an independent backed by the Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S).
She is assured of victory as the ruling BJP has 106 assembly members, including the speaker, while the Congress and JD-S together have 98. The BJP can also bank on one independent member to back Hema Malini.
Dressed in a resplendent gold-coloured saree, the “dream girl” of Hindi filmdom filed the papers flanked by Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and state BJP chief K.S. Eshwarppa.
Marulasiddappa was accompanied by state Congress chief G. Parameshwara, leader of the opposition in the state assembly Siddaramiah of the Congress and JD-S leader in the assembly H.D. Revanna.
The seat fell vacant following the death of JD-S Rajya Sabha member M. Rajasekara Murthy in December.
Monday was the last day for filing the papers.
Hema Malini will have about 13 months in the Rajya Sabha as Murthy’s term expires April 2 next year.
She has completed one six-year term 2003-2009 as a nominated member of the upper house.
The full strength of the assembly is 225 (including one nominated member). But the number has been reduced to 206 following disqualification of 11 BJP and five independent members for rebelling against Yeddyurappa in October last year.
Three Congress and JD-S members subsequently quit the assembly leaving 19 seats vacant.
