Party social platform for actors, says Bharadwaj

Noted actor Ashutosh Rana, however, said actors, historians and journalists, among others, were part of the society and could serve the country better by remaining in their own fields. ‘‘There is no need for anyone to join a political party merely because of a sudden surge of passion for the nation. It is a personal matter,’’ he said.

Rana said it was a matter of concern that after 50 years of Independence, the voting percentage remained just above 50 per cent and therefore, those who do not exercise their right to franchise have lost the right to question any elected member.

It would be proper if the people prepared a manifesto of their demands and presented it to the political parties rather than political parties drafting manifestos for the people, Rana said. On the demand for a separate Bundelkhand state, Rana, who belongs to Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh, said he was against it as it would not solve people’s problems.

In Mumbai, the NCP has demanded that the Election Commission conduct a thorough probe into allegations of parties paying film stars or hand over the case to the CBI. ‘‘The EC should not neglect reports of political parties paying huge amounts to film stars to induct them. If the EC does not have adequate machinery, it can hand over the probe to the CBI,’’ NCP state unit spokesman Vasant Chavan said.