• Source:JND
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The Bharatiya Janata Party announced the candidature of  Dinesh Pratap Singh from Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareilly and Karan Bhushan Singh from Kaiserganj for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Brij Bhushan is the outgoing MP from Kaiserganj and has been dropped by the party amid allegations of sexual harassment by women wrestlers. Karan, who is the younger son of Brij Bhushan is the president of the Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Association.

There was much suspense on the Kaiserganj seat as the former WFI chief, who is also a six-term MP, had been accused by some of the country’s celebrated wrestlers of sexual harassment. Several top-notch female wrestlers, including medalists, protested against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and demanded his arrest over charges of alleged sexual harassment while being the WFI president.

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Renowned wrestlers, including Sakhi Malik and Bajrang Punia, sat in a protracted protest at the Jantar Mantar, demanding action against Bhushan. Later, Delhi Police registered a case against Bhushan under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC on June 15, 2023. He was granted bail on July 20 last year.

While Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh may have been denied the ticket, the fact that the seat's contest remains within the family shows how influential the Thakur leader and six-time MP is in the region and the party.

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The party also named Dinesh Pratap Singh as its candidate from Raebareli, a Gandhi family bastion which has been won by former Congress president Sonia Gandhi for five consecutive times. She is now a Rajya Sabha MP and the Congress is yet to announce its candidate for the seat.

(With input from agencies)