BJP Moradabad candidate dies, was unwell since his nomination

Singh, who hails from a royal family of Moradabad, was the only Thakur candidate from BJP in the eight seats of Uttar Pradesh where polling took place in the first phase on Friday.

The five-time MLA from Thakurdwara, had won from Moradabad in 2014 defeating Samajwadi Party’s ST Hasan. In 2019, he, however, lost to Hasan.

This time, the BJP fielded him again – his fourth Lok Sabha election – against SP’s Ruchi Veera.

Since he became unwell a day after filing nominations, he appeared in public only twice – in the rallies of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Moradabad — during the campaign.

“As he was on rest, his son Kunwar Sushant Singh, the JP MLA from Barhapur, was looking after his campaign,” said a BJP leader in Moradabad.

An official in Moradabad district election office said, “If Kunwar Sarvesh Singh wins the elections, there will be a re-poll on this seat.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah in a post on X said: “Just a few days ago, I had gone to Moradabad to campaign for him. Like always, I had a cordial meeting and discussion with him. His demise is an irreparable loss for his family as well as all the people of Moradabad and the BJP family.”

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath termed Singh’s death “an irreparable loss for the BJP family”. “I am shocked by the demise of Kunwar Sarvesh Singh ji. My condolences are with the bereaved family,” he posted on X.