Bengaluru, (DHNS): The JD(S) is learnt to be making all out efforts to persuade Sandalwood actor Sudeep to join the party ahead of the 2018 Assembly polls.

Having remained out of power for over a decade, the regional party has lost its sheen. JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy now feels that bringing on board somebody like Sudeep, who is a superstar, will change the party’s prospects for the better.

According to party sources, JD(S) MLC C R Manohar, who is also a Kannada film producer, has been entrusted with the responsibility of convincing Sudeep to join the party.

Not only is Manohar producing Sudeep’s upcoming film ‘Villain,’ the duo have been friends for nearly two decades. Sudeep was also seen pledging his support to Manohar, when the latter filed his nomination papers to contest the MLC elections from Kolar-Chikkaballpur constituency two years ago. It was Manohar who facilitated a meeting between Kumaraswamy and Sudeep earlier this month on the former’s bidding.

When Sudeep called Kumaraswamy to greet him on his birthday on December 16, Manohar is said to have prompted the actor into inviting the JD(S) leader over for lunch. Kumaraswamy, who was quick to accept the invitation, visited Sudeep the very next day and pitched that he should consider joining the JD(S) and contesting the elections.

Manohar told DH the party is hopeful that the actor will consider the party’s invitation. “Sudeep and I are like brothers and it is true that I facilitated the meeting. Though he has no interest in foraying into politics, we are hoping that he will change his mind and join the party. If he ever comes to politics, he should join JD(S), and no other party,” he said.

Manohar said that the JD(S) will get a major boost if Sudeep decides to contest elections. The actor is yet to announce his decision.

The JD(S) hopes that Sudeep, like his uncle Sarovar Srinivas, will choose the regional party, if and when he enters politics. Srinivas was elected as an MLC twice on a JD(S) ticket.

It can be recalled that Kumaraswamy had asked voters in Mandya last year during the panchayat elections to “reject” actors entering politics and recognise only those persons who work for the welfare of the people. Both Kumaraswamy and Sudeep were not available for comment.