'Marulasiddappa better than 'dumb' Hema Malini'

Hema Malini is contesting the Rajya Sabha elections from the State on a BJP ticket.
At a press conference in Bangalore on Saturday, writers and theatre personalities said Marulasiddappa could represent the State in a more effective way than the actor.

Karnad said he knew both Marulasiddappa and Hema Malini, and the former was a far better candidate. “She is a good actor in reel life but dumb (Daddi) in real life. We have seen her (Hema Malini's) six-year tenure as Rajya Sabha member where she failed to raise even a single question in the House. Marulasiddappa is definitely better than her,” Karnad said.

“There is nothing personal against Hema Malini but we feel Marulasiddappa is aware of the issues affecting Karnataka and can highlight them in an effective way,” said Baragur Ramachandrappa.

Marulasiddappa, who was present at the conference, said the opportunity to represent the State in the Upper House of Parliament should be given to a Kannadiga as he/she knows the geo-political scenario and economic conditions of the State better than outsiders. He said he had written letters to BJP, Congress and JD(S) MLAs seeking their support. He claimed that Opposition party members had promised support and many ruling party MLAs too had soft corner for him.

Marulasiddappa and his supporters displayed signed copies of many literary and theatre personalities extending their support to him.

They include S G Siddaramaiah, Chidananda Murthy, Ravi Varma Kumar, Shudra Srinivas, N K Manohar, Banjagere Jayaprakash, Chandrashekhara Kambara, Ko Channabasappa, RG Halli Nagaraj and N N Narasimhaiah.