Kolkata: West Bengal’s voters for the first time are witnessing a galaxy of film stars, football icons, famous singers, and theatre personalities as key contenders for the parliamentary elections.

The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has nominated eleven celebrities, the highest number by any political party in the country, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) not far behind in the race, having fielded five.

Meanwhile the Congress has fielded a lone celebrity, in the form of a painter.

TMC’s star line-up includes Tollywood’s reigning star Dev, alias Deepak Adhikari, who is fighting from Ghatal constituency in West Midnapore.

Another is Bengali screen icon, Late Suchitra Sen’s daughter and yesteryear actor, Moon Moon Sen (who recently introduced herself as Srimati Dev Varma) from Bankura, one of the districts affected by the Maoist movements.

She will be taking on, Communist Party of India — Marxist (CPM) heavyweight, Basudeb Acharia, a nine-time MP. Her daughters Riya and Raima, both Bollywood actresses, would push up the glam quotient during the campaign, as they will join their mother in seeking votes.

The party’s star-studded list also includes Sandhya Roy, one of the leading ladies of Bengali cinema in the 1960s, contesting from East Midnapore. Singer Indranil Sen, is trying his luck from Berhampore in Murshidabad district, against Congress heavyweight and state chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

Lead singer of folk band ‘Bhoomi” Saumitra Roy is contesting from Malda North constituency in Malda district, where as theatre personality, Arpita Ghosh from Balurghat in South Dinajpur district. Former Indian soccer skipper, Baichung Bhutia, is contesting from Dajeeling, the most watched constituency in the state.

The party has also nominated Sugata Bose, grandson of great revolutionary Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and professor at Harvard University, from Jadavpur constituency. Bose’s mother Krishna won the polls from the same constituency consecutively in 1996, 1998 and 1999.

The TMC has also renominated matinee idols and incumbent parliamentarians Satabdi Roy and Tapas Pal in Birbhum and Krishnanagar constituencies respectively.

Another soccer captain Prasun Banerjee, who won the Howrah Lok Sabha seat in a by-poll last year, is also in the fray.

Meanwhile, the BJP has nominated two Bollywood musical exponents — Bappi Lahiri and Babul Supriya. While Lahiri is contesting from Sreerampore, Babul is fighting from Asansol. The other BJP nominees include film actors George Baker from Howrah, Nimu Bhaumik from Raigang, and renowned magician P.C. Sorcar (junior) from Barasat constituency.

However, critics point out that upping of the glamour quotient dilutes the participatory character of mass politics, which is supposed to facilitate dialogue between constituents and representatives. Its potential impact on electoral outcomes has become a talking point across social media platforms.

In the absence of real experience with grassroots politics, celebrities have resorted to leveraging their screen personalities in the electoral arena, while ignoring the issues of their respective constituencies.

Sen’s poll campaign has grabbed headlines for her beauty-regimen in the sweltering heat of Indian summer, while Tapas Pal and Satabdi Roy have waxed eloquent about their dietary requirements through the rough and tumble of the campaign trail.

Dev is not far behind, with film schedules jostling for space alongside an election campaign, making the headlines in local dailies. Also his out of context remarks have created enough controversy.

P.C. Sorcar, is holding magic shows to attract crowds, while talking little about his plans for the constituency, if elected.

Congress’s lone celebrity, painter Samir Aich, is more interested about the artistry of wall graffiti, rather than focusing on issue of public life.

CPM though has not fielded a single candidate with glamour quotient, and is depending on its seasoned comrades to reverse its poll fortunes in the state.