Sanjay Dutt`s controversial past casts shadow over Durban rally?

Durban, March 01: Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt on Sunday failed to turn up for the much-awaited rally of the ANC in Durban, fueling speculation that the ruling party may have developed cold feet over the inclusion of the controversial actor to woo the voters of Indian origin ahead of key polls.Dutt, who plans to contest the forthcoming parliamentary election in India, had been invited by the ANC to attend public meetings and charm the voters to support the ruling party ahead of the crucial parliamentary election next month.

The actor, who plans to contest on the ticket of Samajwadi Party from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, was also expected to visit Gandhi Settlement in Durban as part of an attempt to woo the Indian-origin voters for the elections on April 22. Deputy minister Roy Padaychee, who was also a member of the organising committee for the ANC rally, told reporters that Dutt was unable to take part in the event as he could not fit the rally into his schedule. Though Padaychee did not elaborate, a local radio station, Lotus FM had broadcast an interview with Dutt about his keenness to attend the rally and visit the Gandhi Settlement. Even as the ANC has declined to divulge any further details about the circumstances leading to failure of the Indian actor to turn up for the rally, it`s reliably learnt that the party had come in for severe criticism for associating with the controversial actor, who had been convicted on weapons charges in 2006. However, he was acquitted on terrorism charges."Dutt is an unsavoury character in India. It`s also quite confusing that the ANC is linking up with a politician who is in opposition to India`s Congress Party, considering that the relationship between the ANC and the Congress Party dates back to before Indian independence," said Kiru Naidoo, a political analyst. He said the the "choice of Dutt is strange" as the the Indian Congress party was at the forefront of the alliance with the ANC during the apartheid struggle. "The Congress Party was at the forefront of the alliance with the ANC during the apartheid struggle, so the choice of Dutt is strange," Naidoo said. He said the Samajwadi Party has its own merits, but it is a far more recent party and there is also no record of any relationship between the ANC and the left leaning Indian party with strong base in Uttar Pradesh. "The ANC leadership has been badly informed about Dutt`s credentials. Dutt has little pulling power in India and I think he will have less pulling power in South Africa," said Naidoo. ANC faces its toughest challenge since the end of apartheid in 1994 after the formation of COPE party from the loyalists of ousted president Thabo Mbeki. The opposition parties last week slammed the ANC’s move to use Dutt as the face of its election campaign. "It is shocking that they are bringing a person like Dutt to canvass support within the Indian community when he himself, like Zuma, has several allegations of corruption hanging over his head," an oppostion provincial legislature George Mari was quoted as saying by The Sunday Times of South Africa. Bureau Report