As the polls approach, the political ambiance intensifies with each passing moment. With the first phase of seat nominations nearing completion, many still await the announcement of candidates. The Indian state of Uttar Pradesh boasts 80 Lok Sabha seats, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already declared their candidates for 63 of these. The BJP had announced Ajay Mishra Teni's candidacy for the Kheri seat in their very first list, whereas Varun Gandhi was notably absent from the ticket allocation for Pilibhit. Thus, all eyes are now on the Kaiserganj seat.
What does the future hold for three-time MP from Kaiserganj, Brijbhushan Sharan Singh? The market of speculations is buzzing with the question of whether BJP will back the six-time parliamentarian Brijbhushan or introduce a new face. In the midst of ticket uncertainty, a social media post by Brijbhushan Sharan Singh has further fueled speculation.
Posting a video on the social media platform X (initially Twitter), Brijbhushan wrote, "The joy and sorrow of my Lok Sabha Kaiserganj constituency is my own. It always feels like I'm with my family when I am here. Indeed, this is my family (Modi Ji's family) and together with Modi Ji's family, we have resolved to cross the mark of 400 this time."
Brijbhushan's post mentions Modi Ji's family and has led to speculation regarding the political message behind the colors of his turban and scarf in the video. In the video, Brijbhushan can be seen wearing a red turban and holding a blue scarf. The speculation arises because the color of his turban matches that of the Samajwadi Party's cap, and the blue color is politically associated with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Thus, questions are being raised about what message Brijbhushan aims to send with his post.
Messages Conveyed Through Video and Post
Brijbhushan's mention of Modi's family in his post is being interpreted as a gesture of faith in BJP's policies and leadership, while simultaneously seen as a statement for his own supporters and parties like SP and BSP. Senior journalist Dr. Shriram Tripathi suggests that Brijbhushan's social media post, amidst concerns of being denied a BJP ticket, mainly addresses his party and supporters. By donning a blue scarf and red turban, Brijbhushan signals that he is not averse to contesting elections under the symbols of SP and BSP if denied a ticket from BJP. This could also be a tactic to exert pressure before the ticket announcement.
Brijbhushan Has Previously Represented SP
Brijbhushan Sharan Singh has been a three-time MP from Kaiserganj and has also won elections on an SP ticket earlier. He had claimed his first victory from Kaiserganj representing SP. Both SP and BSP have not yet announced their candidates for Kaiserganj.
The Uncertainty Behind Ticket Speculations
The speculations surrounding Brijbhushan Sharan Singh's ticket are attributed to allegations made by female wrestlers and the slogan chanting after the election results of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). Accusations against Brijbhushan of the sexual harassment of female wrestlers led to protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. Subsequently, Sanjay Singh, backed by Brijbhushan, was elected president in the WFI elections. Following Sanjay's victory, his supporters showered Brijbhushan with garlands and chanted slogans denoting his undiminished influence.
Brijbhushan has not been included in BJP’s star campaigners' list. While BJP has announced candidates for several seats around his constituency of Kaiserganj, they’ve been notably silent about Kaiserganj itself. Following Varun Gandhi's removal from the Pilibhit ticket, the suspense over Brijbhushan's candidacy has deepened.
