Comedian Shyam Rangeela denied nomination from Varanasi, alleges ‘democracy being killed’
New Delhi: Comedian Shyam Rangeela popularly known for mimicking Prime Minister Narendra Modi was reportedly denied to file nomination from the Varanasi seat on Monday, May 13. Shyam had announced his intention to contest against PM Modi.
The nomination process began on May 7, but Shyam alleged on May 10 that obtaining the nomination form from the constituency was unnecessarily complicated. He claimed that he, along with several others intending to file nominations, were unable to do so.
Shyam, taking to his official ‘X’ handle posted a video of him speaking to the media, wherein he states that, “I have seen people crying trying to get nominations. People have been waiting since 8 AM in the collectorate. They are not being given the form. The officials are asking us to understand the matter, and we are understanding why we are not being given the form.”
Shyam further expressed his frustration, stating that the entire day of May 10 went waste as nobody was allowed to file nomination, and the situation continued on May 13. He emphasized that the right to contest elections was being denied.
Alleging that “I can see democracy being strangled,” Shyam claimed that despite completing all the process as said by the officials, they were not let inside the collectorate, "this is to enable PM Modi to win unopposed. I will not take my decision back, I will file the nomination,” he added.
Shyam Rangeela also wrote to the Election Commission of India, highlighting the obstacles faced despite completing all formalities and urged the Election Commission to take action so that interested candidates could fill their forms.
Meanwhile, it's worth noting that the last date for nomination in the Varanasi parliamentary constituency is May 14, and PM Modi is also scheduled to file his nomination on the same day.
आज लोकतंत्र का गला घुटते अपनी आँखों से देखा है, मैं नेता नहीं कॉमेडियन हूँ ,फिर भी नामांकन दाखिल करने निकला, सोचा जो होगा देखा जाएगा, लेकिन ये जो हो रहा है ना तो सोचा था ना देखा जा रहा🙏🏽
— Shyam Rangeela (@ShyamRangeela) May 13, 2024
प्रस्तावक भी थे, फॉर्म भी भरा हुआ था, बस कोई लेने को तैयार नहीं था, कल फिर कोशिश करेंगे pic.twitter.com/Uf6VZNK4sJ
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'Rear-guard action': BJP over Mamata accepting sports minister's resignation after Messi event
New Delhi (PTI): The BJP on Tuesday alleged that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's accepting Aroop Biswas' resignation as the state sports minister is nothing but a "rear-guard action" to douse public anger over the mismanagement of football icon Lionel Messi's event last week.
BJP co-in-charge for West Bengal Amit Malviya alleged that this is also an "open confession" that the Messi event fiasco was not accidental but a government-manufactured disaster, borne out of the poor governance of Banerjee, her ministers and the state bureaucracy.
Banerjee on Tuesday accepted Biswas' resignation as the sports minister in the wake of the controversy over the mismanagement of football icon Messi's event last week, a senior leader of the ruling TMC said.
Biswas, who had written to the chief minister seeking to be relieved of his responsibilities as sports minister, will continue as a cabinet minister, retaining charge of the power department.
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Reacting to the development, Malviya said in a post on X, "TMC Sports Minister Aroop Biswas resigns after the Messi fiasco and Mamata Banerjee accepts it in record time."
"Do not mistake this for accountability; this is nothing but a rear-guard action to douse public anger. anger! This is not 'Raj Dharma'," he added.
The BJP leader alleged that the incident was the outcome of "loot" of common people which is "so synonymous" with the TMC.
The incident was also the outcome of the "shameless VIP culture that TMC thrives on and deep-rooted cronyism promoted by Banerjee," he charged.
Malviya further alleged that Biswas' resignation exposes a "collective failure of Mamata Banerjee, her partisan bureaucracy, and her crony cabinet".
"This is a symbolic sacrifice, a political hoax, soon to be buried under layers of bureaucracy, with no justice, no accountability, and no remorse," the BJP leader said, adding, "No resignation will bring back the time lost, the money wasted, or the stolen chance for football lovers to witness Messi in Kolkata."
