Riding on Kishan’s popularity, BJP hopes to win back Gkp
GORAKHPUR: Actor Ravi Kishan getting the BJP ticket to contest LoK Sabha polls from Gorakhpur may have surprised many but local leaders are confident that riding on his popularity and glamorous background the ruling party will win back the seat they lost to Samajwadi Party alliance in 2018 by-poll.
This despite resentment among a section of party workers over fielding of a parachute candidate at the cost of dedicated BJP workers in the constituency which has been the chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s citadel.
“Workers are well aware that elections are being fought in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and under the symbol of lotus. There is no resentment,” said Mahendra Singh, BJP’s district general secretary.
When asked about BJP MLA Mahendra Pal Singh, who had even distributed sweets following report by a TV channel that his name has been finalised by CM Yogi, he said that every workers may have his political aspirations but party’s decision is above all.
Kishan, whose name was also doing round during 2018 by-poll, got the ticket ahead of 2018 by-poll candidate Upendra Dutt Shukla, SP turncoat Praveen Nishad, MLA Mahendra Pal Singh and BJP district unit chief Mahendra Singh . Like Shukla, Ravi Kishan is also a candidate with no links with Gorakhnath with temple but is a Brahmin by caste.
Kishan had joined the Congress in 2014 and contested from Jaunpur and was able to secure only 4.25 percent of the total votes. However, in 2017 he joined the BJP. “I am lucky to have been fielded on the seat represented for long by CM Yogi. I have been given big responsibility and I hope I will fulfill it,” said Kishan
Kishan’s candidature also took netizens by surprise with some on social media calling him just another dancer.
“Gorakhpur which gave the country top leaders including Veer Bahadur Singh and Rajnath Singh seems to facing drought of candidates .That’s why the BJP has fielded a parachute candidate. Will he be a successor of Yogi ji,” posted a user on Facebook. Another social media user posted Kishan’s picture in women attire with a question that will he be the successor of Yogi.