The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday rejected comedian Shyam Rangeela's affidavit, which he had submitted for his nomination as an Independent candidate in Varanasi against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The ECI website reported that among 55 candidates, 36 had their forms rejected, while the affidavits of 15 candidates, including PM Modi and Congress' Ajay Rai, were approved. Shyam Rangeela had filed his nomination as an Independent candidate from Varanasi on Tuesday, expressing grievances that he faced obstacles in filing his nomination papers.
On why was his nomination rejected?
Rangeela revealed that despite his persistent attempts to file his nomination since May 10, he was obstructed from entering the District Magistrate's office on the day Prime Minister Modi submitted his nomination papers. "The Election Commission has turned this electoral process into a game. Today, my nomination was rejected. If they had no intention of accepting my nomination, why did they put on the act before the public? It's evident now, within less than 24 hours. There was no deficiency in my documents. I was aware of the requirements - documents, proposer, and deposit - necessary to contest the election. I had all of these in order," Rangeela expressed.
"Yesterday, I was granted entry only after 3 pm. Today, I understand why. The District Magistrate informed me that the sworn affidavit required for filing was missing and rejected my nomination," the comedian added.
Why Rangeela decided to contest from Varanasi?
Formerly a supporter of PM Modi, Rangeela had earlier remarked on the evolving circumstances over the last decade, prompting his decision to enter the electoral fray from Varanasi. "In 2014, I was a follower of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I shared many videos supporting the Prime Minister. Videos were also shared against Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal. Seeing them, one could say that I will vote only for the Bharatiya Janata Party for the next 70 years. But the situation has changed in the last 10 years. I will now contest against the Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha polls as an Independent candidate," he had announced.
Who is Shyam Rangeela?
29-year-old Shyam Rangeela, originally from Rajasthan, first entered into politics by joining the Aam Aadmi Party in 2022. He gained widespread recognition for his uncanny impersonations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, showcased on popular television programs like 'The Great Indian Laughter Challenge'. Rangeela's breakthrough came in 2017 when his portrayal of PM Modi garnered widespread acclaim. Since then, he has consistently produced videos mimicking the PM across different settings, including interviews, speeches, and ordinary interactions.
