“Many people asked me whether it was Ganesh Kumar’s blackmailing that forced Mohanlal to turn up”. Having broken the unwritten rule of actors not participating in election campaigning, Mohanlal has left other film stars miffed at his actions. He goes on to say that Ganesh Kumar is one of the very few ministers who he has admired and respected.
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Salim Kumar, the national award winning actor, resigned from the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), protesting against Lal campaigning for Ganesh, vicepresident of AMMA. Salimkumar has been an open supporter of the Congress party.
The actor had taken part in an event of Left Democratic Front candidate and Pathanapuram MLA K B Ganesh Kumar. I am saddened that he (Mohanlal) broke the rule, which is why I am resigning. Responding to the thundering applause of the audience, the 55-year old actor star said that “Ganesh is a personal friend and I have come to meet him”.
There has been no official word from others in the association but its president Innocent, who is a Lok Sabha lawmaker and won as a Left-supported candidate, played down the controversy, saying Mohanlal just made a “personal visit”.
“I had wanted to be in Pathanapuram (to campaign), however owing to busy circumstances, I couldn’t make it”, begins the actor. “If anyone wants to campaign for any particular person, in case AMMA members are contesting for different parties, then that person should first quit AMMA”, said Salim Kumar adding that he has sent his resignation to Mammootty, who is AMMA general secretary.
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He quit the Congress-led United Democratic Front past year over differences.
