Comedian Shyam Rangeela, who had on Tuesday submitted his nomination papers to contest elections from Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday evening said that his nomination has been rejected “on the ground that he did not take the oath”. The 29-year-old from Rajasthan, who shot to fame for mimicking Prime Minister Modi, had filed the nomination as an Independent candidate. “My nomination has been rejected…They don’t want me to contest from here. They took my nomination papers after 3 pm on Tuesday (the last day for filing nomination), while I was alone. I was a first-timer and didn’t know the process. No one told me that I was to take an oath. Now, they are saying that because I did not take an oath, my papers were rejected,” Rangeela told The Indian Express. In a video message on X, Rangeela alleged that “the Election Commission has made elections in Varanasi a game.” “Today, my nomination was rejected. If you were to not clear it, why did you accept it? We submitted all documents… Today, the DM told me that there was some issue with my documents and that I didn’t take the oath… They didn’t let the lawyers go in with me and called me alone. Now, the reason they gave is that I didn’t take an oath and that it was on me to take an oath. I said you didn’t ask me to, and they responded it isn’t their work. The second thing is that sir was saying that on May 14, I submitted the form at 2.58 pm, and that if there was some issue with it, I would have had time till 3 pm. I have been trying here since May 10 with several others… My friend was beaten up. Modiji may act and cry, but I don’t want to cry here.” “I did not set out to win, but to give a message,” he added. Reacting to Rangeela's post, the official account of Varanasi District Magistrate S Rajalingam wrote, “Your nomination paper was scrutinized in your presence and you were informed about the deficiencies. Your nomination paper has been cancelled because the affidavit submitted by you was incomplete and you did not take the oath/affirmation, a copy of the order of which has also been made available to you." Despite text messages and calls, Rajalingam couldn’t be reached for a comment. Varanasi will go to polls in the seventh and last phase of polling on June 1.
