Nandlal Nayak: Batting for change

Ranchi, Nov. 12: Tribal artiste Nandlal Nayak has won hearts in as many as 103 countries across the world. But now, he is set to perform on a different stage, not in his capacity as a dancer or a musician, but as a politician.

Taking a cue from several Bollywood stars who have joined politics, Nayak, a city-based folk artiste, is trying his luck in the Assembly polls.

The music director of national award winner feature film Amu, Nayak has filed nomination from Kanke Assembly constituency, which will go to polls in the first phase on November 25. He is fighting on a Jharkhand Janadhikar Party ticket.

According to the affidavit filed before the returning officer, Nayak has Rs 4.5 lakh in cash and Rs 48,000 in the form of bank deposits. He also possesses jewellery worth Rs 1.5 lakh and 30 acres of agricultural land.

Asked what drove him to join politics, Nayak said he wanted to bring social, moral and economic changes in society. “I want to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the state,” the artiste said.

Son of eminent folk artiste Mukund Nayak, Nayak has already started campaigning. He is pitted against BJP’s Ramchandra Baitha, Samari Lal of JMM and RJD’s Khuda Ram, besides two Independents. And he is mainly focusing on the youths of his constituency. “Youths should come forward to bring about a positive change in society,” he stressed.

The students of Gossner College from where Nayak completed his graduation in 1994 lauded the artiste. “This shows that he thinks seriously about the development of the state,” a student of the college, Naveen Kumar, said.