Comedian Shyam Rangeela, who rose to fame with his mimicry of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has announced that he will contest the Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi.
On Monday, Rangeela wrote on social media platform X (previously Twitter), "I will contest elections from Varanasi because nowadays no one is sure who will withdraw the nomination."
In a video post on Wednesday, Rangeela said in Hindi, " I, Shyam Rangeela, the comedian, I have come here to share with you my mann ki baat. Yes, I am contesting from Varanasi against PM Modi and I am doing it to because we all saw what happened in Surat and Indore... I am afraid the same might happen in Varanasi. Even if one person wants to vote against someone, they should be able to do that, there should be an option on the EVM."
Rangeela also took a swipe at the electoral bonds row, saying, “I am excited to contest the election, but this is my first time. So, I would need your support. I don’t have electoral bonds and have not taken from anyone. So, I would need some wealth, too. I need people's support in any way.”
He said he will soon announce when he will reach Varanasi and will file nomination papers.
Concluding his video message with an uncanny mimicry of PM Modi, Rangeela said that like PM has often said, 'Jo jis bhasha mein samjhega main usko usi bhasha mein jawab dunga,' I have come to answer to PM Modi in his own language."
The 29-year-old, whose real name is Shyam Sundar, originally hails from Rajasthan. He became famous for his mimicry of various politicians and has also appeared in The Great Indian Laughter Challenge.