Comedian Shyam Rangeela, known for his mimicry of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is gearing up to contest against PM Modi from the Varanasi Parliamentary seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections of 2024.
The 29-year-old comedian from Rajasthan announced his electoral debut with a mission to uphold democracy and provide voters with a genuine choice in Varanasi.
Prime Minister Modi, a two-time MP from Varanasi, is seeking re-election from the seat for a third term. The Varanasi constituency is scheduled to go to polls in the seventh phase of Lok Sabha elections on June 1.
Shyam Rangeela emphasized that his candidacy is not merely symbolic but a serious endeavour to safeguard democracy. In an interview with The Indian Express, he stated, “We will be standing there to at least tell the people that we won’t let democracy come under threat here, to provide an option to people to exercise their right to vote…unlike Surat or Indore.”
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Shyam Rangeela was referring to recent instances where BJP candidates won unopposed after Congress candidates withdrew their nominations in these constituencies.
वाराणसी से चुनाव लड़ने के ऐलान के बाद आप सबसे मिल रहे प्रेम से मैं उत्साहित हूँ,
वाराणसी पहुँचने और नामांकन और चुनाव लड़ने को लेकर जल्द ही वीडियो के माध्यम से अपने विचार आप सबके सामने रखूँगा
वन्दे मातरम् – जय हिन्द #ShyamRangeelaforVaranasi #election— Shyam Rangeela (@ShyamRangeela) May 1, 2024
Asserting his commitment to the electoral race, Shyam Rangeela emphasised that he will contest wholeheartedly and plans to file his nomination papers in Varanasi this weekend. “Even if everyone withdraws their (nomination) papers (in Varanasi), my papers will still be there,” he affirmed.
Shyam Rangeela also shared his journey from being a fervent supporter (bhakt) of PM Modi to becoming a critic. He cited instances where he faced restrictions in pursuing his comedic work due to political interference. “I was a bhakt even till 2016-17, but then restrictions were imposed on me…When it happens again and again, you realise there is politics in comedy,” Shyam Rangeela explained.
Motivated by the desire to offer genuine representation and counter hollow promises in politics, Shyam Rangeela expressed his intention to engage in politics through comedy. “When people are doing comedy in the name of politics, then I will do politics via comedy…so that people realize I’m not just making hollow promises,” he concluded.
Shyam Rangeela’s decision to contest against Prime Minister Modi is poised to inject an element of humour and satire into the electoral landscape.
