Defiant Brij Bhushan says will contest 2024 polls: ‘Kaiserganj se chunav ladunga, ladunga, ladunga’

In his speech at the rally, Singh did not directly touch on the protest by the wrestlers or the allegations raised against him. He began the speech with the lines, “Yeh mila mujhko muhabbat ka silla, bewafa kehke mera naam liya jata hai. Isko ruswai kahen ki shohrat apni, dabe hontho se mera naam liya jata hai (This is the reward I have received for my love, they call me unfaithful. Call it notoriety or fame, they take my name with pursed lips).”

After the speech, during which he mostly targeted the Congress and hailed the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, he was asked by reporters where he would contest the 2024 election from. That was when he announced that he would seek reelection from Kaiserganj.

Sunday’s rally was part of the BJP’s outreach programme launched to mark the completion of nine years of the Narendra Modi government. Similar rallies were being organised in all 80 Lok Sabha constituencies of Uttar Pradesh. Singh’s rally in Kaiserganj was held at a college run by him.

He was previously scheduled to hold a Jan Chetna Maha Rally event in Ayodhya on June 5, but later announced its postponement citing police investigation into the allegations of sexual harassment against him.

On Sunday, Singh reached the rally ground sitting atop a vehicle that was part of a cavalcade of SUVs. He was welcomed on stage with slogans of hailing “UP tiger Brij Bushan Singh”. On stage, he took charge of the event, inviting MLAs and MLCs to make “short” speeches.

In his speech, he hit out at the previous Congress-led central governments. He said that under the government led by former PM Jawaharlal Nehru, India had lost possession of thousands of square kilometres of land to Pakistan and China.

He also attacked the Congress over the state of Emergency imposed between 1975 and 1977, as well as the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

He expressed confidence that the BJP would come back to power in 2024, recalling the party’s big wins in 2014 and 2019.

Singh also praised the government’s efforts, particularly pointing out the work done in Kashmir and with regard to the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

“The credit goes to Modi, but even before that, it goes to the party workers and the public. They have made Modi ji capable.”

Other BJP leaders at the rally praised Singh in their speeches.

MLC Manju Singh called Singh “purvanchal ke gaurav (the pride of the eastern region)” and an “inspiration for the youth”.

Madhya Pradesh minister Mohan Yadav, who was the chief guest at the rally, asked the gathering to clap for Singh, saying that he built 55 colleges and schools and promoted education in the area.