Reality shock for reel star: Kannada film star Uppendra's party to split?

Bengaluru: Even before it could face its first election, the Karnataka Praja Janata Party (KPJP) of Kannada film star, Uppendra, seems to be heading for a split with a majority of its executive committee members threatening to expel him from the party.

Things reportedly came to a head after Mr Upendra strongly objected to the style of functioning of some of the executive committee members. While the actor turned politician had decided to have a final discussion with those aspiring for party tickets on Tuesday, trouble began Monday morning with a rival group headed by Mr Mahesh Gowda, an executive committee member, threatening to expel him from the party in protest against his “ dictatorial attitude.”

When contacted, Mr Upendra said that after he founded the party in August, Mr Gowda and his friends had approached him in October asking to join him. “Initially, they had told me, they too believed in my kind of politics and joined the executive committee. But now as they have a majority, they are threatening to expel me,” he added.

Mr Gowda and his associates have reportedly promised tickets to many without consulting the actor. “Last week, when I told them I should have the power to issue B-form they got nasty and told me I should not be dictatorial. They were also planning to raise funds for the party on the lines of other political parties, but I objected,” he explained. Asked what his next step would be, Mr Upendra said he would take a decision after interacting with candidates for the coming assembly poll.

“I don’t want to deviate from the Prajaakiyaa’s alternative politics. There is no question of going back on this,” he asserted.