Amidst allegations of sexual harassment raised by India’s leading women wrestlers, the outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) from Kaiserganj constituency, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh announced on Sunday that he would definitely contest the forthcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Singh attempted to put an end to the controversy surrounding him by quoting a couplet from the ‘Ramcharitmanas’. During a rally organised by the BJP in Gonda to commemorate the completion of nine years of the Narendra Modi-led Government at the Centre, Singh refrained from disclosing the party from which he plans to contest the next election.
Speculations are rife that the BJP leadership is not particularly enthusiastic about fielding Singh from Kaiserganj in 2024 due to the ongoing controversy surrounding his tenure as WFI chief.
Simultaneously, the support extended by Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav to the protesting wrestlers has conveyed a clear message to the influential figure in Gonda that securing a ticket from the SP in 2024 may not be viable for him. While not explicitly addressing the protest by top wrestlers calling for his arrest on charges of sexual harassment, he said, “I have experienced tears, sorrow, and poison... This is the reward I have reaped for my love... I am labeled a betrayer... My name is whispered, both in infamy and fame.”
While Singh had maintained a guarded silence regarding the wrestlers’ protest, Akhilesh recently voiced his demand for justice in favour of the athletes who have been rallying against the WFI chief.
Singh, a seasoned politician and six-time MP in the Lok Sabha, has held parliamentary positions five times under the BJP and once under the SP and has also previously represented Gonda in 1991 and 1999.
During the rally, Singh directed his attention towards criticising the alleged shortcomings of the Congress’ rule since India’s independence. He highlighted the accomplishments of the Narendra Modi Government and denounced the previous Congress administrations for allegedly conspiring against the verdict in favour of the Ram Temple at the Babri Masjid site.
Singh further held the Congress party accountable for the encroachment of Indian territory by Pakistan in 1948 and China in 1962, emphasising that such encroachments would not have been possible in “Modi’s India.”
The roadshow, which commenced from Singh’s residence in Vaishnoharpur, culminated at the rally venue, Raghuraj Sharan Singh Degree College, which is owned by the BJP MP.
Last week, a social media poster featuring Singh as the convener of the Sunday rally and Madhya Pradesh Higher Education Minister Mohan Yadav as the chief guest was circulated.
Notably, Singh had to cancel a planned rally in Ayodhya on June 5, possibly due to directives from the BJP top leadership. While Singh claimed that the cancellation was due to the ongoing investigation into the allegations of sexual harassment made against him by protesting wrestlers, the exact reasons behind the decision remain undisclosed.