Renowned actor Pankaj Tripathi has voluntarily relinquished his position as the National Icon of the Election Commission of India (ECI). Tripathi made this decision as he is portraying the role of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a real-life political figure, in the upcoming movie "Main Atal Hoon." The actor expressed that he had communicated his decision to step down before the release of the film's trailer.
"It is a normal process. The news has come out now but I had written to the ECI before the release of the film's trailer," Tripathi stated in an interview with PTI. The official spokesperson of the ECI confirmed Tripathi's voluntary resignation and expressed gratitude for his impactful contribution to voter awareness and the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) program since his appointment in October 2022.
Tripathi, a National Award-winning actor, mentioned that he enjoyed being associated with the ECI and spreading awareness about their voter programs. However, given his portrayal of a political icon like Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the film, he felt it was appropriate to step down from the position voluntarily.
"Main Atal Hoon," directed by Ravi Jadhav and produced by Vinod Bhanushali, Sandeep Singh, Kamlesh Bhanushali, Bhavesh Bhanushali, and Sam Khan, is scheduled to be released on January 19. Tripathi's decision to step down reflects his commitment to maintaining the integrity of his role as a political figure in the movie.
(With Agency Inputs)
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