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Upendra Rao

Kannada cinema icon Upendra Rao continues to fascinate audiences with his unconventional storytelling and philosophical depth, seen in classics like Om (1995), Upendra (1999), and Uppi 2 (2015).

His political venture, the Uttama Prajaakeeya Party (UPP), embodies a bold experiment in “Prajaakeeya”, prioritising people-powered governance over traditional power structures.

In 2026, following the blockbuster success of Coolie (2025), Upendra balances a booming film career with quiet advocacy for citizen-centric politics.

This post explores the ideology’s enduring appeal, electoral history, challenges, and relevance in today’s landscape.

From KPJP To Launching UPP (2017–2018)

Upendra’s political journey began dramatically in August 2017 when he joined the Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party (KPJP), generating widespread excitement among youth seeking alternatives to caste-driven politics.

Conflicts over transparency and ticket allocation led to his resignation in March 2018.

On his birthday, September 18, 2018, he founded UPP, securing Election Commission registration with the auto-rickshaw as its symbol, evoking the working class and everyday accessibility.

The party operates as a “cashless” entity, rejecting donations to eliminate money’s influence.

Prajaakeeya Ideology

Prajaakeeya reimagines democracy by integrating direct participation into India’s representative framework, drawing inspiration from Swiss referendums and emphasising the sovereignty of the people.

Built on ART (Accountability, Responsibility, Transparency) and a five-point program (Selection, Election, Correction, Rejection, Promotion):

Selection: Candidates collect authentic voter signatures door-to-door, explaining Prajaakeeya without incentives; the party verifies and grants tickets based on public demand.
Election: Minimalist campaigns focused on dialogue, no extravagance.
Correction/Rejection: Public polls on decisions; periodic surveys enable Right to Recall for underperformers.
Promotion: Merit-driven roles, viewing politics as service (khaki uniforms for representatives).

Upendra insists on informed engagement: Casual voting undermines the system.

The official website (prajaakeeya.org) and app support polls and applications, though occasional glitches are reported.

Electoral Record

UPP has fielded candidates consistently but achieved limited success against Karnataka’s entrenched parties:

2019 Lok Sabha: Contested all 28 seats with ordinary citizens, no wins.
2023 Assembly: Over 100 voter-selected candidates, zero seats.
2024 Lok Sabha: Candidates in multiple constituencies (e.g., Mysore, Bangalore), negligible impact.

No significant activity or alliances reported in 2025–2026, with the party maintaining a low-profile grassroots presence.

Challenges

Voter disinterest, funding constraints, and dominance of major parties hinder growth.

A 2023 controversy over alleged remarks led to FIRs (later addressed legally).

Upendra avoids personal contests, prioritising ideology.

2026 Update

Now 58, Upendra’s cinematic resurgence dominates headlines:

UI (2024): Directed and starred in this sci-fi thriller.
Coolie (2025): Extended cameo alongside Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna, and Aamir Khan in Lokesh Kanagaraj’s pan-Indian blockbuster—marking a triumphant Tamil return.
Upcoming: 45 (with Shiva Rajkumar), Buddhivantha 2, and others in the pipeline.

Politically, UPP remains registered and active online, with Upendra occasionally promoting Prajaakeeya via social media and interviews.

No new electoral forays announced as of mid-2026.