CHENNAI, Jan 28: Film actress Gauthami is all set to actively campaign for the BJP candidates in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in the next fortnight.``Though I have a busy shooting schedule, I have decided to spare time for campaigning for the party'', Gauthami told newsmen on Tuesday.The tall, glamourous actress, who was present at the press conference addressed by BJP vice president Jana Krishnamurthy in the city, said that she had joined the party, impressed with the BJP leaders L K Advani and A B Vajpayee.
``I was greatly impressed with the BJP leaders and I believe that they alone can give the right direction to the country.''
Asked about Rajnikanth's support for the DMK-TMC, she said, ``I am campaigning for the BJP and not against anybody.'
'When it comes to Rajnikanth, the AIADMK and its new found ally do not see eye to eye. While the AIADMK supremo J Jayalalitha does not miss a chance to hurl barbs at the actor, the BJP has a furtive word of praise for him.
Jayalalitha had dismissedRajnikanth as a non-entity, but the BJP is making much ado about his recent statement confirming his continued support for the DMK-TMC combine.
Reading the statement between the lines, Jana Krishnamurthy at a media conference said, ``while asking his fans to exercise their franchise without fail, he has made it clear to them not to waste their time campaigning for the DMK and TMC.''
He then went on to interpret Rajnikanth's remarks that `Deepavali cannot be celebrated every month' as the film star's call for a stable government which could be provided only by the BJP. ``He has come out with a cleverly worded statement,'' Krishnamurthy praised.
The BJP leader dismissed a query on Jayalalitha's observation that Rajnikanth's statement would have no impact on the electorate, saying, ``It is her view.''
As for the election scene in Tamil Nadu, he said the AIADMK-led front would get majority of the seats in the State. ``Initially we started with 50-50 chances'', he said, expressing the hope that the frontwould forge ahead, as the campaigning gains momentum.
Krishnamurthy sought to play down the Sonia factor, saying, ``despite her campaigning, the prospects of the Congress are not encouraging in the coming elections.''
The BJP leader asserted that his party would secure a comfortable majority and form the government at the Centre. The reason for BJP's optimism was because the rival Congress had considerably weakened and the United Front was in shambles.
Stating that the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh was tottering and the party could not strike an alliance with Rashtriya Janata Dal in Bihar, he however conceded that the party might improve its tally in Andhra Pradesh thanks to declining popularity of ruling TDP in the State.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
