The Election Commission will rope in Bollywood stars and sportspersons to boost polling percentage in the forthcoming polls in Himachal Pradesh. The model code of conduct will come into force in the first week of October in the state.
Thus, the EC has approached many Bollywood stars from the state, including Kangna Ranaut, Preity Zinta and playback singer Mohit Chauhan, to endorse voting. While Ranuat hails from Bhambla village in Mandi district, Zinta is from Jubbal in Shimla. Mohit Chauhan was raised in Nahan in Sirmaur district.
Earlier, the government had approached Ranaut for promoting tourism, but it dropped the step after the actress demanded a hefty cheque.
Apart from Bollywood stars, the EC is also roping in noted wrestler Dalip Singh Rana, aka Khali. He belongs to Nanidhar panchayat in Sirmaur district and started his professional sports with the Punjab police in 2000. He entered the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2006.
The EC has also approached Vijay Kumar, an Olympian and plans to rope in Payal Thakur, an 11-year-old visually impaired girl.
