Bangalore:
Hindi cinema's dream girl has filed her nomination papers in Bangalore today as the BJP's candidate for the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka.
The by-election, scheduled for March 3, became necessary after the death of former Union Minister M Rajasekhara Murthy who belonged to the Janata Dal (S). The BJP's numbers in the Karnataka Assembly virtually guarantee Hema Malini's victory. Her term will last till April next year.
The BJP's decision to name the actor as its candidate has caused considerable heartburn in Karnataka with many aspirants pointing out that she is an outsider with no real link to the state.
Combating those voices, Hema Malini said today, "I want to thank the BJP party for nominating me; I have had a long association with this state from many years as an artiste. As an MP, I will have to understand what Karnataka needs, I will take special interest in the state, especially in cultural matters."
Now that she's officially the BJP's candidate from Karnataka for the Rajya Sabha, actor Hema Malini has declared her assets.
They include five kilos of gold, and four houses worth more than 35 crores.
Her four cars include a Mercedes.
She has "other assets such as values of claims/interests" valued at more than 23 crores.
Her liabilities include loans worth nearly 17 crores owed to IDBI Bank and ICICI Bank.
(With PTI inputs)