Moon Moon Sen hits campaign trail

Kolkata, April 1 (IANS) Former Bollywood actress Moon Moon Sen Tuesday launched her campaign as the Trinamool Congress candidate from the Bankura Lok Sabha constituency.

The daughter of Bengali screen icon Suchitra Sen, who passed away early this year, the Oxford educated Sen sought blessings at a mosque as well as a temple in Metia Narayanpur village in Bankura district.

Known as "Suchitra Sen er meye (Suchitra's daughter)" in the interiors, her calm demeanour was in sharp contrast to the aggressive body language of battle-hardened politicos as she interacted with residents in her constituency.

Sen made head turns as she stepped out of the vehicle ferrying her and Trinamool workers.

"I will try be closer to the people of my constituency," she said, attired in white and sporting glares.

The actress had earlier stated she was familiar with the area.

"Actually, I have done lot of films and jatras (folk theatres) in that part (Bankura) of the state. I have travelled a lot. I used to break into songs whenever I saw the red soil of the region," she said, reacting to her nomination earlier.

However, the actress recently courted criticism for her comments regarding campaign preparations in the summer.

"It's very difficult to look glamorous in summer but I'll see what I can do. There's no harm in that. I've done theatre and I know to combat heat. I've been to Bankura to shoot for films. I know people will accept me," she told a TV channel.

Once a sex-siren who mesmerised legions of male fans with her oomph and charisma, Sen will be fighting CPI-M heavyweight Basudeb Acharia in her constituency.

It remains to be seen whether her star-power can garner votes.

But for the people in the sleepy hamlets of Bankura, a bit of stardust is a welcome respite.