News Analysis India

Tag: independent candidate

  • The man who wanted to challenge Modi but lost the battle even before it began

    For many years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not just a leader but a hero for Shyam Rangeela, mirroring the admiration held by millions of Indians. Shyam was so inspired that he began to mimic Modi, even mastering the PM’s iconic “Bhaiyon, Behno” greetings.Over time, however, things changed. Shyam experienced a shift in perspective, particularly after facing what he called restrictions on his work from a group of Modi supporters. This marked the beginning of his transformation from a devoted fan into a critic.Recently, the comedian made headlines with his announcement to contest against Modi from Varanasi as an Independent candidate.“Halfway into the show in which I was mimicking the PM, I was asked to walk out, and mend my ways. That day, I felt that my freedom was clipped. Later, I realised that such intimidation was common. Politicians are not so generous in taking humour and criticism,” a ToI report (by Shailvee Sharda) quoted Rangeela as saying.AllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther StatesJourneying all the way from Rajasthan’s Sriganganagar to file his nomination, Shyam’s efforts were thwarted by a technical error. The reason for the cancellation of his papers was due to the omission of “not taking oath” during submission, leading to what he calls the “shattering of a dream”. Though disappointing, Rangeela sees the rejection as a form of victory. “The cause of freedom for which I stood up got some attention,” he adds, reflecting on his “chhoti si poll story”.Embracing the rejection, Shyam is relishing the moment, giving interviews, and meeting journalists and influencers from around the globe.Sharing his experience with TOI, the comedian says, “Wo kehte they ki challenge ke bina maza nahi aata hai. Why couldn’t Modi ji keep his words?” he wonders, questioning his rejection.

    Does he regret his political venture? The narrative doesn’t explicitly answer, leaving room for interpretation.

    “Haan, main toh kahin ka nahi raha. BJP wale kehte hain ki maine Modi ji ka mazak banyaya. Congress wale kehte hain main Rahul ki mimicry ki hai. Mujhe dono taraf se kaam nahi milta hai. Chunav mein bahut paisa bhi kharch ho gaya hai to ab naya kaam dhoondh ke hisab theek karna hoga,” Rangeela told the newspaper.

    He claimed to the newspaper that he said no to offers to join opposition candidates and target Narendra Modi from a stronger political platform.

    “I didn’t want to get tagged. In this way, I will prove my trollers right,” Rangeela adds.

    “Jibes such as ‘mazak mazak mein serious ho gaya’ and ‘ghode pe aaya tha nomination bharne’ are very decent compared to allegations like my nomination was rejected because of a pending rape case against me,” he says.

    Rangeela says he will miss the love that people showered on him when he announced to contest poll from Kashi.

  • Pappu Yadav: Bihar: Pappu Yadav adds to Congress woes, says will enter LS fray from Purnea as Independent

    Purnea: Congress leader Pappu Yadav on Thursday said he would file his nomination from Purnea as an Independent candidate.

    The move could stir up trouble in the INDIA bloc in the state, as the Congress and the RJD recently clinched a seat-sharing deal as part of which the former set aside Purnea for the latter.

    Thereafter, the RJD candidate Bima Bharti filed her nomination from Purnea.”… Today is a new chapter of my life because I have won everyone’s heart and I have received everyone’s blessings. I will work for the strength of INDIA bloc, Congress at any cost. The county wants Rahul Gandhi to be the PM. The country has seen enough caste discrimination and Hindu-Muslim divide, now there should be talk about the youth of this country and the economy of the country…,” Yadav said, speaking to reporters on Thursday.

    Yadav said that though he was distressed in the last few days he has won the heart of the country.

    “I have definitely been tortured and distressed in the last 14 days but I have won the heart of the country. Winning elections doesn’t matter to me. I wan to win the trust of the country and I have won the trust of Bihar,” Yadav said speaking to reporters on Thursday.Speaking about his relations with the Congress, Yadav said, “Congress family is with me, I have won their trust and I’ll be with this family forever.”Pappu Yadav, who has been an independent MP from Purnea twice, was demanding a ticket from the Congress Party.

    It is worth noting that the former MP Rajesh Ranjan, alias Pappu Yadav, who merged his Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) with the Congress, is adamant about contesting the Lok Sabha elections from the Purnia constituency, the seat given to the RJD as per the agreement reached by the alliance.

    His stand has put pressure on the Grand Alliance in Bihar.The Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), the opposition coalition in Bihar, including Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and Left parties, recently announced that the RJD, its largest constituent, will contest 26 out of the state’s 40 Lok Sabha seats, including Purnia, in the upcoming elections.

    Pappu Yadav has even urged RJD supremo Lalu Yadav to reconsider his decision regarding Purnia and give it to the Congress since the RJD announced that it would field former minister and Rupauli MLA Bima Bharati from the seat.

  • It’s an O Panneerselvam Vs O Panneerselvam fight for the LS poll in Ramanathapuram

    As former chief minister O Panneerselvam fights the Lok Sabha election as an independent candidate from Ramanathapuram constituency, he is facing a young namesake of his, who too has filed his nomination for the polls from the same constituency as a standalone candidate.

    Panneerselvam, who heads the AIADMK Workers Retrieval Organisation and is continuing his legal battle against his expulsion from the party, has aligned with the BJP for the LS polls.

    The 74-year old leader is pitched against a 42-year old man by the same name, O Panneerselvam, a resident of Usilampatti taluk in Madurai district who too has filed his nomination to contest as an independent candidate from Ramanathapuram constituency. The former chief minister is ‘Ottakara Thevar Panneerselvam’, while the younger contestant is ‘Ochappan Panneerselvam.’ However, only the letter ‘O’ will be prefixed to their names in the official list of candidates, as is the practice. The photographs of the candidates and the individual symbol allotted to them will help voters differentiate between them.