Renowned actor Arun Govil, celebrated for his portrayal of the revered Lord Ram in the iconic TV series ‘Ramayan’, has ventured into the realm of politics by formally stepping into the electoral arena as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the Meerut Lok Sabha constituency.
In a symbolic gesture marking his transition from the silver screen to the political stage, Govil filed his nomination papers on Tuesday, flanked by Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. Thousands of people who thronged the collectorate shouted the slogan 'Jai Sri Ram' as Arun Govil, dressed in saffron, alighted from the open jeep.
Expressing gratitude to the BJP leadership for the nomination, Govil acknowledged the overwhelming outpour of support from the public.
“Today, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the BJP leadership for bestowing their trust upon me and for nominating me as the candidate from Meerut,” said Govil.
Maurya exuded confidence in Govil’s candidacy, saying the BJP’s is on firm footing in Uttar Pradesh.
“Arun Govil has filed his nomination papers today. There is tremendous confidence among the workers and people that the BJP will achieve the target of winning all 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh and 400 seats in the entire country,” Maurya said.
Govil’s entry into politics was announced on March 24 when the BJP handpicked him to contest from the Meerut Lok Sabha constituency, capitalising on his widespread popularity and the deep-seated reverence garnered from his portrayal of Lord Ram.
Responding to queries regarding the BJP’s potential opposition in the forthcoming elections, Maurya downplayed any looming threat, stating, “According to us, there is no one in competition. There is no opposition anywhere. There is a tussle among SP, BSP, and Congress. Our preparations are from 2024 to 2047 (when UP assembly elections are to be held).”
With Govil’s induction into the political fray, the BJP seeks to harness his towering celebrity status and mass appeal to clinch victory in the upcoming elections, reiterating its unwavering commitment to consolidate power both in Uttar Pradesh and across the nation.