In a surprise move, the Samajwadi Party on Monday, 29 April, changed its candidate in the Lok Sabha Varanasi seat and fielded former Border Security Force (BSF) trooper Tej Bahadur Yadav against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Yadav said he “will try to live up to the expectation and the belief that the party has shown in me". He said that the issues for contesting the election are soldiers, farmers and unemployment.
"AAP has also extended their support to us. Next, whatever party directs, I'll do," he said. "My appeal to the people is that it is time to recognise who is a real chowkidar and fake chowkidar," Yadav said.
“What did I do wrong? I only showed them the corruption standing in that snow. The whole nation saw it,” he said referring to the video he posted of stale and burnt food that was given to the soldiers.
Yadav was sacked after the video went viral on social media. "It's not just me, they've done this to several other soldiers and farmers. Just look at the future of the youth. They said that they will give 2 crore jobs, did anyone get anything?,” asked.
“How did they (BJP) become a nationalist party? We are the one fighting for the nation, you tell me? We fight for the nation. Has anyone in their family ever joined the forces?”Tej Bahadur Yadav
SP had previously named Shalini Yadav as its candidate in the Varanasi constituency which will see voting in the last phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections on 19 May.
Yadav will also face Congress’ Ajay Rai, whose candidature was announced on 24 April.
Earlier an Independent Candidate
Yadav had earlier announced that he will contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls as an independent candidate from Varanasi.
The former BSF jawan is a resident of Rewari in Haryana and was dismissed from service in 2017 after he complained about the poor quality of food served to the armed forces and corruption within the army.
Announcing his entry into politics, Bahadur had told The Quint that he thought of joining politics to bring an end to the “corruption in the Indian army.”
“PM Modi had first begun the politicisation of the armed forces. It never used to happen before. I have chosen Varanasi so that I can question him on his own turf as to why he has politicised the armed forces. What has he done for the army?”Tej Bahadur
Kejriwal Lauds SP Chief for Fielding Tej Bahadur Yadav
Moments after the announcement, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal lauded Samajwadi Party President and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for fielding Tej Bahadur Yadav against PM Modi in Varanasi.
Hailing the move, Kejriwal in a tweet in Hindi, thanked Akhilesh.
He added:
"On one hand there is a person who risked his life for the country and lost his job to fight for the rights of jawans, while on the other hand there is this person who fired a jawan who raised his voice and asks votes over martyred soldiers."
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