Lok Sabha Polls: BJP Gives Brij Bhushan's Kaiserganj Seat To His Son; Picks Dinesh Pratap Singh For Rae Bareli

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday announced the candidature of Dinesh Pratap Singh from Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareli and fielded Karan Bhushan Singh from his father’s — Brij Bhushan Singh — turf of Kaiserganj for the Lok Sabha elections.

The saffron camp’s announcement comes amid the brewing suspense over Congress pick for Rae Bareli and Amethi Lok Sabha seats.

DINESH PRATAP SINGH

Dinesh Pratap Singh had earlier fought the 2019 general elections from Rae Bareli constituency, where he was defeated by Congress senior leader Sonia Gandhi.

The saffron camp’s announcement comes amid the brewing suspense over Congress pick for Rae Bareli and Amethi Lok Sabha seats.

The Member of Legislative Council in Uttar Pradesh, who joined BJP in 2018, indicated that he and party workers in Rae Bareli have prepared for the contest over the last six months.

The hard work put in by them would “bring down any bastion”, he said. His priority, Singh said, was to take Raebareli’s history to “new heights”.

Following the announcement of his candidature, Dinesh said, “I would like to thank PM modi, Amit shah, JP Nadda and people support….I am not born in gandhi family and know hardwork….not born with silver spoon. ‘Nakli gandhi ki vidai hogi‘ (fake Gandhi will be given a farewell)….whoever will come here from congress will lose…..I have fought against Sonia also, PG and RG not important for me.”

Singh also alleged that the Gandhi family never fulfilled the necessities of the people of the Raebareli and that he has always stood with the people here in their need.

KARAN BHUSHAN SINGH

Karan Bhushan Singh is the younger son of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Singh. Karan has been given Brij’s Kaiserganj seat.

Karan is the president of Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Association. Other than this, Karan has also been a national level shooter. He completed his business management studies from Australia. The Lok Sabha candidate’s elder brother, Prateek Bhushan Singh, is currently an MLA.

Notably, Brij Bhushan Singh is a three-term MP from the Kaiserganj constituency.

Following his son’s candidature announcement, BJP MP Brij Bhushan said, “I thank the party for this. Nomination will be filed tomorrow.” While Karan went to Ayodhya’s Hanuman Garhi temple to offer his prayers. He said, “I came here to seek the blessings of Bajrang Bali. He is my Guru…”

The BJP’s decision to field Karan from Kaiserganj constituency comes days after a Delhi court junked MP Brij Bhushan Singh’s plea seeking further probe into the sexual harassment case filed against him by women wrestlers.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Priyanka Rajpoot of Rouse Avenue Courts will pronounce the order on framing of charges in the case on May 7.

Singh, in his application, had sought time for making further submissions on charges and for further probe, saying he was not in India on the date of one of the incidents, where a complainant has alleged that she was harassed at the WFI office.

Last week, the Kaiserganj MP, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, had sought to blame the media over the delay in announcement of his name as the BJP candidate from the constituency.

Singh had said, “The worry of the ticket is that of mine. You (media) people need not worry. The announcement of my candidature is getting delayed because of you people.”

The former WFI chief, accused of sexually abusing female wrestlers, an issue that saw the saffron camp on the back foot, had refused to back down.

Earlier in April, Brij Bhushan had hit the campaign trail in Kaiserganj. He had sent out a message of ‘show of strength’ and confidence that he will be getting the ticket. A source close to Singh had said that he is confident of getting the ticket since the polling date is May 20.

Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.