LUCKNOW: While the suspense over the BJP candidates in a dozen seats in Uttar Pradesh continues, the sitting MP from Kaiserganj Brijbhushan Sharan Singh is believed to be adamant at contesting from there again.
It may be recalled that Brijbhushan Sharan Singh has been facing legal proceedings in connection with the alleged sexual exploitation of female wrestlers while being the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). He was removed from the post following a prolonged protest by the wrestlers in New Delhi last year.
Sources said that owing to the taint, the ruling party had given him the option of fielding the candidate of his choice -- either his wife Ketaki Singh or son Prateek Bhushan Singh -- from Kaiserganj, but even after several rounds of talks, the sitting MP does not seem to be ready to budge and is pushing for his own candidature. However, the final call will be of the central leadership of the BJP.
Not only the central leadership but the state unit of the BJP also feels that following the allegations of sexual exploitation of female wrestlers, the candidature of Brijbhushan Sharan Singh would give ammo to the opposition to target the ruling alliance.
BJP insiders claim that the state unit of the party has already sent its report to the central leadership regarding the 12 seats for which the candidates have to be announced.
Of the 12 seats -- Rae Bareli, Deoria, Kaiserganj, Prayagraj, Kaushambi, Ghazipur, Ballia, Phulpur, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Bhadohi and Machhlishahar -- the BJP had lost three -- Mainpuri, Rae Bareli and Ghazipur -- winning the remaining nine in the previous general elections in 2019.
As per party sources, the nine sitting MPs may be changed in the ensuing elections by the party central leadership. The BJP is waiting for the Congress to announce its candidate in Rae Bareli to assess the situation and then move ahead with its choice which includes MLC and Yogi minister Dinesh Pratap Singh who had contested against Sonia Gandhi in the 2019 battle. The other name that may be considered is that of Manoj Pandey, the SP turncoat, or a surprise candidate imported from outside Rae Bareli.
Similarly, in Ballia, Virendra Singh Mast may be sent to some other seat. Rita Bahuguna Joshi had already announced her retirement from electoral politics during the 2022 UP Assembly elections when she was seeking a ticket for her son Mayank who later joined the SP.
In Bhadohi, the party may consider the candidature of Congress turncoat and former MP Rajesh Pandey, while the candidate for Ghazipur would be decided in consultation with J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha who had lost the last election to BSP candidate Afzal Ansari now contesting from the SP.
