Prakash Raj to Contest 2019 Lok Sabha elections

Newsroom, Jan 1: Multi-lingual actor and activist Prakash Raj aka Prakash Rai has decided contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate.

Ra, whoj has been a vocal critic of the BJP government and participated in several protests after the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh, said he would reveal details of the constituency he will contest from soon.

Raj made the announcement on Twitter at exactly 12am, saying “Ab ki baar Janatha ki SARKAR.”

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE..a new beginning .. more responsibility.. with UR support I will be contesting in the coming parliament elections as an INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE. Details of the constituency soon. Ab ki baar Janatha ki SARKAR #citizensvoice #justasking in parliament too..

— Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) December 31, 2018

In December 2017, Raj had said that he will enter politics if there is a challenge. "I have no interest to enter politics, but if there is a challenge by a political force, I will take it up. If the challenge is posed to me further, I am ready to enter politics," he announced.

In 2018, Raj hit the headlines by attacking BJP and the Narendra Modi government several times. In January 2018, Raj said that he is anti-Modi, anti-Ananthkumar Hegde, anti-Amit Shah, and anti-Adityanath.

"I have not spoken about any political party or religion or caste. I oppose only a few people. I have the courage to name them. It is my right also. I have nothing to hide. Amit Shah has asked MP Pratap Simha, also BJP state Yuva Morcha president, 'How many protests have you held in which tear gas shells have been lobbed so far?'. Should I love the people, who create tension and violence in my state," the 53-year-old multilingual actor asked.

He had criticised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's statement on Tipu Jayanti. Raj, who tweeted using #justasking hashtag, stated: "Dear Sir, what is your agenda again?" Dear Mr.Yogi, why are you sowing seeds of unrest in Karnataka?"

Raj had filed a defamation case against Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha for making 'derogatory statements' against him in February, in the same month which his first book was released.

"I have set off on a journey to discover and learn something which remains unknown. In a way, the journey is a process of getting naked. It's not the process of learning, but the process of forgetting whatever I've learned, that makes me happy," he said at the 'Iruvudellava Bittu' book launch.

Raj also asked ' to whomsoever it may concern' that if they would mind apologising for demonetisation.

BJP youth-wing Yuva Morcha had reportedly 'cleansed' the stage with cow urine after Raj's speech at Sirsi in Uttara Kannada district. Protests at his events are also common.

Beyond the controversies, Raj also involved in developmental activities. He visited Bandlarahatti villagein Hiriyur taluk to learn about the fluoride problem in the village. His foundations - Prakash Raj Foundation and Just Asking Foundation - had adopted villages across various states and implementing developmental and welfare activities.