Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote to actor Mohanlal, one of the heavyweights of the Malayalam film industry, seeking support for the union government's cleanliness mission 'Swachhata Hi Seva’ (Cleanliness is service).
"As a much-adored film personality you have the power to impact people's lives positively. Your participation in the Swachhta mission would help connect millions to the noble initiative,” the letter to the actor says, reports Manorama Online.
Modi also asked the actor to share his experience with him on the Narendra Modi mobile app. "Your participation will further inspire others to be a part of the movement. You can share your experience with me on the Narendra Modi app. Let us all come together for cleanliness, pay a fitting tribute to Bapu and work towards building a New India. Cinema is one of the most effective medium to bring about change on a large scale," the letter says.
President Ram Nath Kovind launched the nationwide cleanliness campaign from Iswarigunj, a village in Kanpur district of Uttar Pradesh on Friday.
The campaign follows Swachh Bharat Mission of the Narendra Modi government which was launched three years ago. The third anniversary of Swachh Bharat Mission falls on October 2.
Modi has also appealed to all ministers to do their part for the cleanliness drive, to take India to the highest standards of cleanliness by 2019.
Additionally, the Modi government has been trying to strengthen the image of the BJP in Kerala. with an eye on the 2017 Lok Sabha elections. The party has never won a Lok Sabha seat from the state. It opened its account to the state Legislature for the first time in the last Assembly elections in 2016.
Suresh Gopi, another superstar of the Malayalam movie industry, is BJP’s nominated MP to Rajyasabha. Mammootty, an actor with the same clout as Mohanlal in the industry, is known for his affinity towards the CPI (M).
Based on Mohanlal’s blogs, where he constantly praises army men defending India’s border and protecting the country, he is believed to have a soft corner for the BJP.