Now, BJP leader holds free movie screening in Bengaluru

Free movie screenings are raining upon voters in Karnataka this election season.

After households in Mandya were handed out free tickets to Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil’s Sandalwood flick Seetharama Kalyana, a Karnataka BJP leader has now organized free, week-long screening of the Bollywood movie Uri: The Surgical Strike at a Bengaluru mall.

This is being seen as former KR Puram legislator NS Nandish Reddy’s attempt to better his chances at getting a Lok Sabha ticket. Reddy is said to be an aspirant to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election from the Bangalore North constituency, where incumbent MP is Union Minister DV Sadananda Gowda.

Reddy has booked the 9 am slot for the Uri movie at the Arena Mall in Doddanekundi. “People of Bangalore North can watch the movie for free till next Tuesday (February 12) through the ward committees,” Reddy told reporters.

Also read: Family has not discussed Nikhil for Mandya: CM

“If we’re able to watch movies, eat at hotels or even move about freely, it’s because of our soldiers. We’ve lost many soldiers in the past 60 years due to political decisions that weren’t taken. Our PM Narendra Modi took a decision to respond when our soldiers were attacked (in Uri),” Reddy said. A line from Uri: The Surgical Strike - How’s the Josh? - has come to be a warcry for Modi’s supporters ahead of the election.

Last week, free tickets to Seetharama Kalyana were distributed to many houses in Mandya, with most families receiving up to 15 of them. This was done reportedly to project Nikhil as the JD(S) candidate for the Mandya Lok Sabha seat. DH had reported this on February 1.

Reacting to the story, the chief minister said JD(S) party workers gave out the free movie tickets and claimed it had nothing to do with Nikhil’s political ambition. “Neither Nikhil nor I have said he will contest from Mandya. He’s an upcoming artist and needs encouragement. His acting has received a good response,” Kumaraswamy said.