Kolkata, March 11 (IANS): Gearing up to campaign, reigning Bengali screen icon and Trinamool Congress candidate Dev Tuesday hoped he can drive the youth in West Bengal to take an interest in politics.

Dev will be contesting from Ghatal in West Midnapore district.

"Youngsters are not taking active interest in politics. My work is to inspire the young generation...to motivate them to take an interest in politics. I think they should be involved in what the government is doing," he said here.

"Ghatal is my own place. My parents are very excited. It is my parents' birthplace. I had studied in Chandennagore town as a child for three years," he said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stressed the need for presence of youth in politics.

"It is our job to give them a way...to encourage them and boost them so that they can carry on the work," she said at the airport here.

Banerjee will be participating in a rally with social activist Anna Hazare at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan March 12.

Dev admitted that working for the people, like Banerjee has been doing, is a tough job.

"It is a tough job. Didi is an icon. It is easy to act and dance but it is very difficult to work for the masses. I have to get going and start work," he said.