Bikaner (Rajasthan): Wonder if the 'He Man' knows about it! But owner of 'Amitabh Bachchan Tea Stall' near Kirti Stambh in Bikaner, Kamal Kishore, is praying for Dharmendra's victory in the Lok Sabha elections.

His wishes may be fulfilled despite the actor-turned politician being caught in the thick of a controversy over his marital status and religion.

Elections 2004-The Drama unfolds...
Political Parties in India

Life also offers strange role reversals.

It was the 'angry young man' who had entered Parliament two decades back trouncing late veteran Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna, but left the political arena to play his second innings as an actor.

However, Dharmendra, who had given up the grease paint, has entered politics on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket and is tipped to cause an upset in this Jat-dominated constituency to enter the Lok Sabha.

But 'Sholay', the film in which he starred with Amitabh Bachchan, doesn't seem to be leaving him. He offers a barrage of emotion-packed dialogues at the slightest opportunity to leave his awe-struck audience in rapturous applause.

The 'dharti-ka-puttar' (son of the soil) provides total filmi entertainment at his meetings where people from far-flung areas throng to get a glimpse of the 70-year-old actor.

Ever imagined a candidate threatening to commit suicide from atop Qutab Minar! 'Dharam Paaji' does exactly that. With a roaring crowd at Nokha, 30 km from Bikaner, grabbing every word he utters, the BJP candidate, facing 12 others in this desert constituency, says, "Agar Bikaner walon ko unki cheez nahin mili toh (if people of Bikaner don't get what they want) - suicide and Vajpayeeji will be forced to concede to my demands".

"People are just curious to have a glimpse of Dharmendra. They are not taking him seriously," says Laxman Singh, Bikaner district Congress president.

"Our candidate is a son of the soil. He knows every part of the constituency well and his work as mp will also stand him in great," he says. In the same breath, the Congress leader charged BJP with insulting the people of Bikaner with thrusting Dharmendra, an outsider over them and "they will not forgive the saffron party for this".

On the other hand BJP, though aware of slipping a bit from the earlier high point, particularly after Rajasthan Jat Mahasabha said Dharmendra was not their caste man, but a Ramgarhia Sikh from Punjab, remained upbeat.

Dwarka Prasad Tiwary, member of State BJP executive committee said, "We are not spending much on propaganda. Dharmendra's name is enough to attract votes and we will defeat Congress candidate who has done nothing for the constituency, with the highest margin in the State."

Tiwary also expressed confidence in securing 50 per cent of Jat votes. He said even other castes, including Rajputs, Bania, Brahmins, scheduled castes and minorities would cast their ballot in may five polls in favour of the BJP candidate.

In what appears to be a strange contradiction, a local youth Surinder said, "We know Dharmendra would not do anything for us after elections, but we are going to vote for him."

Dismissing the idea that the controversies surrounding their celebrity might have an adverse impact on the poll result, he said, "Congress is using all its resources including muscle and money and is a frustrated lot. They are aware they have lost the elections."

Tiwary claimed social justice front leader Devi Singh Bhati, who made a dent in BJP's victory margin in the State in the last Assembly polls, is back in the party and "our share of vote is going to register a dramatic rise".

In a constituency comprising five lakh Harijan votes along with two lakh Bishnois, one lakh each of Brahmins, Bania and Muslims and Sikhs, besides 80,000 each of Malis and Rajputs, caste equations would play a vital role.

The action hero is still a hit among women who account for about nine lakh voters in the constituency.

Meera Asopa, BJP district mahila morcha president, said there is a demand from women across the constituency urging Dharmendra to pay a visit in their area.

Snehlata, a housewife says, "What's the harm in electing him once? He cannot be worse than the leaders who have represented this place for long."