Indian Celebrities Take Part In Political Campaigns

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However, past campaigns have involved only a tiny sprinkling of movie stars.
This time, the celebrity line-up for both the main parties is huge. It
includes a mix of retired film stars, popular TV soap opera heroines, and
even a well-known cricket commentator. The BJP set the pace, recruiting more
than a dozen celebrities to campaign for it. The Congress Party quickly
caught up, displaying its own formidable cast of stars. The move has amused
some, but also invited criticism that the campaign has been turned into a
spectacle. Many political commentators say more film stars are being put on
the campaign trail this time to pep up an election devoid of excitement or
serious debate. They say the glamorous line-up also helps political parties
deflect attention from problems such as unemployment, and lack of water and
electricity. Hiranmay Karlekar, editor with the Pioneer newspaper, says
political parties are in a race to win endorsements from the celluloid world
because they do not have a serious message to deliver.

Source:
http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=3A228212-8ABB-4F2F-8D95F17A108C1
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