New Delhi: Like in the all previous elections, the odd balls are adding some colour to the Lok Sabha elections this time too. Infosys co-founder and former IT Czar from Bangalore Nandan Nilekani to banker Meera Sanyal in Mumbai, film actress Moon Moon Sen in Kolkata to Kannada heroine Ramya in Mandya, Mahatma Gandhi's grand son and historian Raj Mohan Gandhi in Delhi to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's grand nephew and historian Sugata Bose in Kolkata, the list is endless.
It has also added some fun to the polls, which are normally a serious, boring exercise being fought by the professional politicians. Almost all political parties have roped in these people to add that extra power to their poll prospects.
ENTREPRENEURS
Nandan Nilekani, Bangalore South, Congress ticket
Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani's candidature in Bangalore South seat is making a difference to the poll temperature in India's IT city. He is taking on BJP's five time MP and former Union Minister Ananth Kumar. The Aam Admi Party (AAP) is also likely to field an odd ball from here.
Meera Sanyal, Mumbai South, AAP ticket
Former banker Meera Sanyal is not new to politics. She unsuccessfully contested as an Independent from the same seat in 2009 and lost to Congress' Milind Deora. She is once again facing him. But, this time on the AAP ticket.
ACADEMICS, WRITERS, JOURNALISTS, HISTORIANS, ACTIVISTS:
Raj Mohan Gandhi, East Delhi, AAP ticket
Eminent historian Raj Mohan Gandhi is the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. He is contesting on the AAP ticket from East Delhi. He had lost 1989 LS polls to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi from Amethi.
Sugata Bose, Jadavpur, TMC ticket
Like Raj Mohan Gandhi, Sugata Bose is also a historian. Like Raj Mohan Gandhi, he too has an illustrious background. He is the grand nephew of Mahatma's main adversary during the freedom struggle Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
Prof Yogendra Yadav, Eminent psephologist, Gurgaon, AAP ticket
Prof. Yogendra Yadav, Senior Fellow at the CSDS and an eminent psychologist is contesting from Gurgaon on the AAP ticket. He is one of the founder members of the AAP.
Ashutosh, Chandni Chowk, AAP ticket
Ashutosh, a well known Hindi journalist is contesting from Chandi Chowk in Delhi as AAP candidate. He is taking on Union minister Kapil Sibal.
Medha Patkar
Internationally known environmentalist and activist Medha Patkar is contresting from Mumbai North East on AAP ticket
HS Phoolka, famous lawyer, Ludhiana, AAP ticket
HS Phoolka, who fought for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims in Delhi, is taking on the Union I & B minister Manish Tiwari in Ludhiana.
Soni Sori, Bastar, likely on AAP ticket
Soni Sori who was jailed and allegedly tortured on the suspicion that she is a Maoist is likely to contest from Bastar on AAP ticket.
Balwinder Kaur from Kurukshetra, AAP ticket
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will be fielding woman farm leader Balwinder Kaur from Kurukshetra, which is represented by industrialist Naveen Jindal of Congress.
CINEMA STARS
Moon Moon Sen, Bankura, TMC ticket
Famous heroine of yesteryears, Moon Moon Sen is contesting on the TMC ticket from Bankura. Reigning Bengali sat Deb or Dev and Shatabdi Roy are also contesting in the LS polls from West Bengal.
Vijayashanthi, Medak, Congress MP
Telugu cinema star Vijayashanthi who recently joined the Congress is likely to be fielded again from her seat Medak in Telangana. She was Medak MP on TRS ticket between 2009-2014.
Another Telugu star Pavan Kalyan is also likely to contest from one of the LS seats in Seemandhra.
Ramya, Mandya, Congress ticket
Famous Kannada heroine Ramya will be contesting from Mandya once again. She won a by-election in 2013.
Aparajita Mohanty, Cuttack, Congress ticket
Veteran Oriya actress is likely to contest from Cuttack. Another veteran Oriya film actor Bijay Mohanty has joined Congress and is likely to contest the LS elections.
Magician PC Sorkar (Junior) is also contesting on BJP ticket from Barasat in West Bengal.
SPORTSMEN
Football star Baichung Bhutia is contesting from Darjeeling on TMC ticket. However the GJM has refused to accept him calling him an outsider. Bhutia is from Sikkim.
Three former Cricketers turned MPs, Mohammad Azharuddin of the Congress, Navjot Singh Sidhu and Kirti Azad of the BJP are likely to contest again.
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