Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has been accused of “sexually assaulting” women wrestlers.Despite debates within the BJP regarding the re-nomination of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh amid allegations of “sexually assaulting” women wrestlers, the former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president has kicked off his election campaign in the Uttar Pradesh’s Kaiserganj Lok Sabha constituency, where he currently serves as the MP.
Police sources reveal that an FIR has been filed against Singh and others for violating the Model Code of Conduct. Singh had reportedly led a procession, in violation of Section 144, with numerous vehicles and hundreds of supporters without securing prior permission, Deccan Herald reported.
While the BJP has announced candidates for 69 of the 80 seats in the state, the candidate for Kaiserganj is yet to be declared. Per state BJP leaders, the party offered to field Singh’s son or any other family member as his replacement, but he insisted on contesting from Kaiserganj.
Reportedly, Singh met with senior BJP leaders in Delhi, and reassured his supporters upon return that he will contest from Kaiserganj.
Singh held roadshows across Kaiserganj, but BJP leaders refrained from participation, citing lack of directives from the party leadership regarding Singh’s candidacy. They also expressed concern over Singh’s premature launch of his election campaign.
A senior state BJP official said that Singh’s outspoken nature, even if at odds with the party or the state government, posed a challenge. Earlier, he openly criticised the Yogi Adityanath-led government when floods had hit several eastern and central districts in the state, including Gonda, Baharaich, Ayodhya and some other districts.
The BJP leadership is aware of Singh’s influence across Gonda, Bahraich, Balrampur, Shravasti, and Ayodhya districts. Singh has represented Balrampur and Gonda Lok Sabha seats in the past. He got his wife Ketki Singh elected to Lok Sabha when he was in jail under TADA in 1996 and his son Prateek Vardhan Singh is also an MLA.