Why is comedian Shyam Rangeela contesting against PM Modi from Varanasi Lok Sabha seat?

Shyam Rangeela, citing the recent unopposed win in the Surat constituency, said, “I feel like it shouldn’t be that there is no other candidate to vote for."

Updated on: May 2, 2024, 07:18:20 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Comedian Shyam Rangeela, popularly known for mimicking Narendra Modi, has announced that he will contest the Lok Sabha elections 2024 as an independent candidate from Varanasi against the prime minister.

Lok Sabha election: Comedian Shyam Rangeela contesting against PM Modi from Varanasi

In a video message posted on X (formerly Twitter), Shyam Rangeela mimicked PM Modi's “one should get a response in their own language” comments. He said he is coming to Varanasi to give the PM “an answer in his own language”.

“I, Shyam Rangeela, the comedian, have come to do my ‘Mann ki baat’ with you. There’s a question in all of your minds: Is what you hear in the news about Shyam Rangeela contesting the election from Varanasi true? Is this a joke? Let me tell you, this is not a joke…I am contesting the election from Varanasi against PM Modi…Anybody can contest elections in this democracy, and I’m doing this for a reason,” the 29-year-old comedian from Rajasthan said.

Citing the recent unopposed win in the Surat constituency and the fiasco during Chandigarh mayoral polls, Shyam Rangeela said, “I feel like it shouldn’t be that there is no other candidate to vote for. Even if one person wants to vote against a candidate, he or she has that right. Someone’s name should be on the EVM.”

Also read: EVM shifting to be tracked; tight vigil at storage centres: Varanasi DM

“…But I am scared that people would have only one candidate to vote for in Varanasi. So I have decided to contest the election from there…I hope my voice will reach there,” Shyam Rangeela added.

“The people of Varanasi have given me a lot of love. I’m elated by the response I got after I announced my candidacy. I’m coming to Varanasi soon…I’m coming to give Modi an answer in his own language,” Rangeela said.

Taking a dig at Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party over the electoral bonds, Shyam Rangeela said, “I am excited to contest the election, but this is my first time. So, I would need your support. I don’t have electoral bonds and have not taken from anyone. So, I would need some wealth, too.”

Shyam Rangeela also urged the people to support him and vote for him.

Rangeela first entered politics in 2022 by joining the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). However, shortly after, he decided to work independently, saying that “he is his own master”.

Varanasi will go to poll in the seventh phase of voting in the Lok Sabha election on June 1. The results will be declared on June 4.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.