A game of one-upmanship has begun between the BJP and JD(S) leaders, and it has started with the distribution of free movie tickets. After people in Mandya were given free tickets to watch Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Gowda’s movie Seetharama Kalyana, BJP leader and Lok Sabha ticket aspirant NS Nandish Reddy is doling out free tickets for his constituents to watch Uri: Surgical Strike.
The former KR Puram legislator has decided to offer free movie tickets to the constituents of Bengaluru North Lok Sabha segment. The 9 am slot for the movie has been blocked for the constituents at Arena Mall in Doddenakundi.
Constituents can now get the tickets from local ward committees for one week till February 21.
“If we are able to eat at hotels and move around the country freely, it is because of the soldiers who sacrifice their lives for us. We have lost many soldiers in the last 60 years due to political decisions. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a decision to respond when our soldiers were attacked. How’s the Josh? has come to be a sort of campaign title for Modi’s supporters now,” Nandish Reddy told the media on Tuesday.
In the last week of January, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy ensured that free movie tickets to his son’s film were distributed to households in Mandya and that each family got around 15 free tickets. The film Seetharama Kalyana was made with the intention of launching Nikhil Gowda as a future politician. Nikhil Gowda is an aspirant for the Mandya Lok Sabha seat.
Speaking to the media about JD(S) party workers giving free movie tickets, Kumaraswamy had said that the film had nothing to do with elections. “No one has said that Nikhil would contest from Mandya. He is an upcoming actor and this was only encouraging for his acting career. His acting has received a good response,” Kumaraswamy said.
Similarly, Nandish Reddy is also an aspirant for a Lok Sabha ticket from Bengaluru North constituency, which is the stronghold of BJP MP DV Sadananda Gowda.
BJP sources say that the party leaders would most probably field Sadananda Gowda in Bengaluru North constituency as it has a strong Vokkaliga vote base. “Aspirants will try to gather support but ultimately high command will decide,” a source told TNM.