NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India has rejected the nominations of 33 candidates, including comedian Shyam Rangeela, for the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency where PM Narendra Modi is contesting for this term after completing two terms from the same constituency.
Shyam Rangeela’s nomination was rejected on the grounds that he did not take the oath. The official account of Varanasi District Magistrate S. Ramalingam wrote, “Shyam Rangeela’s nomination paper has been cancelled because the affidavit submitted by Rangeela was incomplete and Rangeela did not take the oath/affirmation.” In a video message on X, Rangeela alleged, “If you were not going to clear it, why did you accept it? We submitted all the documents.”
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Comedian Shyam Rangeela filed his nomination for the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency on May 14. He alleged that he had been trying to file a nomination until May 10 and finally managed to file it at 2:58 PM on May 14.
Rangeela, a stand-up comedian known for his videos mimicking Prime Minister Modi, was born and brought up in Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh. He gained fame in 2017 when his mimicry act of PM Modi went viral on social media. Since then, Rangeela has been making videos mimicking the PM’s speeches and interviews.
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The Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency is going to the polls in the 7th phase. For this phase, May 14 was the last date to file nominations. On May 15, the scrutiny of nominations was done. This constituency will go to the polls on June 1. The final list of candidates contesting from the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency will be released on May 18, the day after the last date to withdraw candidatures ends. The INDI Alliance fielded Ajay Rai of the INC, and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) fielded Ather Jamal Lari against PM Modi.