Belagavi: He couldn't have been more different from his usual glamorous self. Not only did Kannada superstar, Upendra, arrive wearing an autorickshaw driver's khaki uniform, but also in the common man's triwheeler flanked by a large number of young people to a press conference in Belagavi on Monday.
His welcome was however, anything but ordinary as his fans thronged the venue of the event, leading to a stampede and the actor had to be escorted by a team of policemen into the Range Rover outside after he had finished speaking to the media.
Speaking of his new party, the Karnataka Prajnavantha Janata Paksha (KPJP), he claimed he was in politics because he was keen on doing something meaningful. " I have a house, a farmhouse, an interesting job in a remunerative industry and some bank balance. I could have sat at home and done nothing. But I want to do something meaningful. Hence the party,'' he said.
Contending that his party would not be an election time wonder and disappear afterwards, he said, "We do not believe in simply winning a few seats and becoming kingmakers. The KPJP believes in getting a majority and will continue to fight towards this even if it wins one seat."
Refusing to be critical of other parties, he added, “I will not blame any leader or any party. I will only speak about my vision for the state and plans for the people. Our party will not conform to any existing ideology. Our only ideology is equal opportunity for everyone.'' .
Responding to a question, he said the KPJP would not form an alliance with any political party.
“S.R. Hiremath of Samaj Parivartana Samudaya has been accusing me of building a farmhouse on the land of poor farmers in violation of rules. He forgets that the court has ruled in my favour in that case. He continues to speak about it even after the judgement, " he regretted.
