The recent Assam elections verdict saw a BJP victory over the 15-year anti-incumbency of the Tarun Gogoi Government. It’s something to celebrate, but what made the news was the “hotness” factor of an elected representative.
Ever since her victory, social media has been going gaga over the newly-elected MLA Angoorlata Deka, who was even called the ‘sexiest/hottest MLA’.
The latest in the buzz is a tweet by Ram Gopal Varma. Posting a picture of Angoorlata on Twitter, Varma wrote, “If MLA can look like this, Achche din aagaye hai... Thank you Angoorlataji, Thank you Modiji... 1st time I love politics (sic).”
Such a vulgar bout of objectification is highly deplorable. The tweet earned the director much ire.
Downright disturbing, Shabana Azmi, actor
It’s a sorry state of affairs that women are assessed on their looks, not capability. Politicians are not filmstars... why should one comment on what they wear as long as they dress for the occasion.
‘I don’t care about RGV’
RGV is free to comment what he wants. I don’t care about what he thinks or says. People in Assam know me and also know how much I struggled to come this far. Good he chose social media to express his views. And got fitting responses there from the people of Assam and India.
— BJP MLA Angoorlata Deka
‘It was a compliment’
My comment on MLA Angoorlataji was a compliment on her looks and what’s wrong with complimenting a woman on her beauty? Most MLAs look so bad (not that they need to look good) so her looks came as a surprise to me. I don’t know anything about politics nor am I interested, but if there are beautiful or handsome-looking politicians I might start loving politics as much as films. I was always a kind of a wild horse, very impulsive and fast. If I try to control my wildness, I am sure I will lose my uniqueness and so I just worked towards steering my thoughts instead of stopping them. I don’t care who likes me because I only care about who and what I like.
— Ram Gopal Varma
Lilette Dubey
It’s true in most walks of life (except maybe showbiz), the belief is that if someone is attractive/well turned out, they must automatically be deficient in efficiency, capability, talent and intelligence department. If people are interested in externals, they obviously are more frivolous and non-serious — a myth very hard to undermine.
Hema Malini, actor, BJP MP
The minute people see a good-looking politician, they comment on the looks. I should know. As an MP and politician, I’ve been at the receiving end of this peculiar mindset for years. Not that one minds being complimented for one’s looks. But it’s the thought behind the compliment — how can a beautiful woman be a politician — that is bothersome.
Inputs by Subhash K. Jha, Swati Sharma and Sanjay Basak
