Comedian Shyam Rangeela's nomination rejected in Varanasi    

• Image Credit: Google

• May 15, 2024 | Guriya Khatun

The seventh and final round of voting will take place on June 1 in the Varanasi constituency in Uttar Pradesh. 

Digital Desk: Comedian Shyam Rangeela, who gained fame for his impersonations, had his nomination for the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat denied, reports said. His inability to provide the necessary affidavit was the reason for the denial. He successfully submitted his nomination on May 14 and uploaded a video on X (previously Twitter). But according to the Election Commission of India's website, his nomination was turned down a day later.

Efforts to File Nomination Blocked

On the day Prime Minister Modi filed his nomination papers, Rangeela said the day before that, in spite of his efforts to file his nomination since May 10, he was not allowed entry to the district magistrate's office. He declared, "I would run against the Prime Minister in the elections at whatever cost, winning or losing is a separate story. I already have a lot of public recognition, so I'm not running for office to gain notoriety." 

Allegations of Administrative Difficulties:

Congress leader Surendra Rajput backed Rangeela, stating that Prime Minister Modi is among those who possess the right to submit nominations. Rangdela was not receiving the required nomination documents from the administration, according to Rajput.

"Including PM Modi, anyone is able to submit a nomination. Others are not permitted to submit nominations from the constituency, though. 

"Nomination papers are not being sent by the administration to a Varanasi-based YouTuber named (Shyam) Rangeela. Why does PM Modi have a fear of people? Allow them to run against you," Rajput remarked.

Political Context and Candidates 

After winning large margins in the previous elections—4.8 lakh votes in 2019 and 3.72 lakh votes in 2014—Prime Minister Modi is running for a third term from the Varanasi seat. Ajai Rai of the Congress and Athar Ali Lari of the Bahujan Samajwadi Party are among the fourteen candidates who have filed their candidacy. Rangeela, a mimic and YouTuber from Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, rose to fame in 2017 by pretending to be Prime Minister Modi. 

The seventh and final round of voting will take place on June 1 in the Varanasi constituency in Uttar Pradesh. On June 4, the votes from the Lok Sabha election will be tallied.