Actor Shivrajkumar's wife, who joined the JD(S) on Monday, relies on her father's clout to take on BJP bigwig Yeddyurappa
Bangalore: The JD(S)' much-hyped candidate against BJP's strongman BS Yeddyurappa for the Shimoga seat, Geetha Shivrajkumar, made no bones about her political ineptitude on the first day of her campaigning.
"I am a one-day old politician. I joined the JD(S) on Monday. I don't know much about other parliamentary seats in the state. I want confine myself to Shimoga parliamentary seat," she Geetha, who is the wife of Sandalwood actor Shivrajkumar and daughter of former chief minister late S Bangarappa.
Speaking with mediapersons at an interaction organised by the Bangalore Press Club on Tuesday, Geetha said she decided to contest from Shimoga as her mother asked her to do so, and to take her father's legacy forward.
"There was no pressure on me to contest the election. Earlier, it was decided that one of us (from Bangarappa family) would contest for Lok Sabha from Shimoga. Since my mother is not keeping well, I have to come forward," she said.
When asked if she is confident of winning against a seasoned politician like Yeddyurappa, Geetha said: "I am depending on my father's contribution to the people of Shimoga. I am confident the voters of Shimoga will bless me."
When asked if women would get a space in the JD(S) as actor Pooja Gandhi quit the party, unhappy with the treatment meted out to her, Geetha said: "I have no idea about what happened to Pooja Gandhi, but I am confident of the JD(S) giving importance and space for women."
Geetha will rather quit than indulge in corruption: Shivarajkumar
Actor Shivrajkumar, who accompanied his wife for a media interaction at the Bangalore Press Club on Tuesday, said Geetha would rather quit politics than involving in corruption.
He said he gave the green signal to his wife to enter politics as he wanted to give her the space and opportunity to serve the people of Shimoga. "Our focus is only on Shimoga. I will campaign for Geetha in Shimoga, but not in any other part of the state for any other politician," Shivrajkumar said.
"My father (late Dr Rajkumar) was averse to joining politics, but imposed no such conditions on our family members. Some people also advised my wife not to join politics. But, we are not committing any mistake by doing so. It is up to the voters of Shimoga to to decide whether to elect Geetha or not. My advice for her is to work wholeheartedly for the people of Shimoga," he added.
When asked if his mother Parvathamma Rajkumar was approving of her daughter-in-law entering politics, he said Geetha sought her blessings before leaving for Shimoga to join the JD(S). "One should not try to read between the lines. There are some people who have been spreading rumours about our family. Though I am staying separately, I visit my mother regularly and my brothers also visit us often. We have no differences," he said.
About his brothers Puneeth Rajkumar and Raghavendra Rajkumar canvassing for Geetha, Shivrajkumar said it is up to them to decide whether to canvass for her or not. "I will not insist anyone to canvass for my wife."
Would he direct his fans to support Geetha? "As an actor, I have never asked my fans to watch only my films. Now, I do not want to tell them to support my wife either. It is up to them whether to support her or not," the actor said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}