The stand up comedian Raju Srivastava’s tryst with politics ended on Tuesday when he refused to contest lok Sabha election from his native city of Kanpur saying he was not getting support from Samajwadi Party workers. In a swift action party named traders’ leader Surendra Mohan Agarwal as its candidate in place of Srivastava.
Agarwal is Advisor on Sales Tax to the state government and holds a status of Minister of state. "I decided to withdraw my candidature after I failed to get support from the local workers. I have raised this issue a number of times with Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and he had assured all help but nothing happened at ground level," Raju Srivastava told The Pioneer on telephone on Tuesday.
"I had neglected my comedy shows for many months. I had to cancel many shows. I wanted to work with my people in a city where I had grown up. But what is the use of contesting the lok Sabha elections when no party worker is supporting me in Kanpur,'' he said. "It is better I will go back to do my shows and entertain people." Raju was among the first who was given ticket last year. The comedian even attended several party programmes and campaigned in Kanpur for couple of months. He also shared dais with CM and Mulayam Singh Yadav during Kanpur rally.
"I would like to contest from the seat where I can win but the SP workers are not interested in me and the local legislators of the party have spread a canard against me," he said and added: "The party has no control over the leaders and its workers." When asked whether he had told Akhilesh Yadav about returning ticket he said: "No, I have not said that in so many words but I had told him about the problems I was facing in carrying out my campaign."
Whether he is planning to join some other partyIJ "No. Neither I am in touch with any party nor anyone has approached me." Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party claimed that the ticket of Raju Srivastava was rejected "as he is a non-serious candidate and there were complaints against him."