• By Mayukh Debnath
  • Sun, 28 Apr 2024 08:15 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Ramayan actor and Bharatiya Janata Party's candidate from Meerut for the ongoing Lok Sabha election, Arun Govil, on Sunday found himself at the centre of political hubbub over his next-day-departure from the constituency after the conclusion of polling there on Friday (April 26). Govil left for Mumbai on Saturday after spending a month in Meerut. Following his departure, Congress's Uttar Pradesh unit chief, Ajay Rai, raised questions on Govil's commitment towards the constituency he has been fielded from.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Rai said, "It is learnt that Arun Govil, who was the BJP candidate from Meerut, left for Mumbai the very next day after the elections were over. Perhaps he had difficulty staying among the public." Sharpening his attack, Rai further raked up a byte given to the media amidst polling in Meerut wherein Govil said he is "not exactly aware what kind of issues are prevalent here".

"...during the election campaign, when a journalist asked him about the issues of Meerut, he did not know anything. In reply, he could only say that first let the elections be over and then we will look into the issues," Rai said in his post. He was referring to Govil's response to a journalist who asked him about the issues relevant in the context of the electoral battle in Meerut.

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Answering the query, Govil, as per NDTV, had said, "Basically the major issue always, and anywhere, not talking about this Meerut seat, are roads, electricity, water, education, employment, medical. I am not aware exactly what kind of issues are prevalent here. But whatever will be there, as they come to us we will try to resolve." Rai further targeted the BJP in his post, saying that its leaders "only believe in parachute politics".

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In an apparent response to Rai's post, Govil issued a clarification via the same social media platform. The actor, who rose to everlasting fame after playing the character of Lord Ram on television, said he left Meerut to participate in the BJP's canvassing events elsewhere in the country. "The party is planning to send me to other areas for election campaigning. As soon as this process is completed, I will be amongst you and along with the people of Meerut and the respected workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party," Govil said in his post.