MP polls: Viral video shows Congress candidate seeking blessing in slipper slaps
Ratlam, Nov 18: The Madhya Pradesh assembly polls may have concluded but elements tied to it continue to amuse citizens, particularly those on social media.
A video of the Congress candidate from Ratlam, Paras Saklecha, gladly taking slipper slaps doled out by a fakir is being widely shared on the internet.
Saklecha, who lost the elections in 2013 and 2018, visited the fakir on Thursday with a pair of new slippers to seek his blessing.
Saklecha could not be reached despite multiple attempts.
The video shows the fakir, who lives at a dargah on Mhow road, hitting the former legislator on the head and then cheeks.
As the elderly ascetic, affectionately called by locals as Abba', continues hitting Saklecha, the Congress leader requests him to stop saying "bas, bas, ho gaya (that is enough)", as per the video.
Many people visit the fakir, who smacks them with footwear, with the belief that it would bring good omen for them. While they offer him lungis and footwear, the ascetic accepts them from a few and throws away the rest.
After receiving blows, Saklecha was heard saying, "The fakir baba has warded off evil shadows if any upon me."
The Congress nominee has been pitted against BJP's Chetan Kashyap.
Saklecha won the Ratlam assembly constituency as an independent candidate in 2008, defeating the then home minister Himmat Kothari. However, he lost to Kashyap in the 2013 and 2018 polls.
While attempts to contact Saklecha and Kashyap did not succeed, their acquaintances said they might be resting after a hectic campaigning.
Assembly elections were held in Madhya Pradesh on Friday with a voter turnout of 76.22 per cent, the highest in the state's history. Votes will be counted on December 3.
‼️GEMS OF CONGRESS — Congress candidate Paras Saklecha got himself beaten with slippers by a fakir to win the election.#MadhyaPradeshElections | #CongRSS pic.twitter.com/EV9OGVdLNS
— Mister J. - مسٹر جے (@Angryman_J) November 17, 2023
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Vijay unable to prove majority, not invited for CM oath ceremony: Sources
Chennai: Actor-politician Vijay has reportedly not been invited to take oath as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after failing to demonstrate support from the required number of MLAs, sources in Raj Bhavan said.
According to media reports that quoted sources in the office of R.N. Ravi Arlekar, Vijay could not prove the backing of 118 legislators, the majority mark in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Despite last-minute efforts to secure support from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazagam (AMMK), and an IUML legislator, Vijay reportedly managed support from only 116 MLAs, falling short by two members.
Sources said Vijay failed to submit letters of support from the VCK and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
Later, the IUML issued a statement clarifying that it was not part of the TVK-led alliance.
Meanwhile, AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran is also said to have informed the Governor that his party would support the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) instead.
Earlier in the evening, Vijay had met Governor Arlekar and staked claim to form the government, stating that he enjoyed the support of 118 MLAs.
