The Bharatiya Janata Party finds itself entangled in a challenging predicament regarding the candidature of sitting MP from Kaiserganj, Brij Bhushan Saran Singh, as he remains resolute in contesting the upcoming elections despite the party’s proposal to field his wife Ketaki Devi Singh.

According to a senior BJP leader, who said on the condition of anonymity that the party’s top brass had implored Singh to withdraw his candidacy, emphasising their readiness to nominate his wife Ketaki Devi Singh as the candidate from Kaiserganj.

“The BJP leadership is in a dilemma; otherwise, Brij Bhushan’s candidature would have been announced by now. His name is always in the first list,” the leader stated.

Ketaki Devi Singh, who has previously served as an MP, contested the elections from the Gonda Lok Sabha seat in 1996, while Brij Bhushan Singh was incarcerated in Tihar Jail under TADA. She emerged victorious, defeating Anand Singh of Congress by a substantial margin of over 80,000 votes.

The party is yet to reveal the list of candidates for 12 constituencies, including Rae Bareli and Kaiserganj.

Sources indicate that the delay in finalising candidates for these seats is primarily due to the uncertainty surrounding Brij Bhushan’s candidacy.

Despite facing allegations of sexual harassment from women wrestlers during his tenure as President of the Women’s Federation of India, Singh, the six-time MP commands significant influence in several Lok Sabha seats in eastern Uttar Pradesh, which has earned him the moniker of “dabang neta” on the ground.

He has been instrumental in securing victories for the party not only in Kaiserganj but also in six other constituencies, including Gonda and Bahraich.

The MP/MLA court in Delhi is scheduled to hear Singh’s case on April 23, with a verdict expected the same day. The BJP leadership is apprehensive that nominating Singh may provide ammunition to the opposition, potentially jeopardising the party’s electoral prospects.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already raised questions regarding BJP’s integrity, juxtaposing its response to Singh’s case with her party’s swift action against accused individuals in the Sandeshkhali incident.

Amid Singh’s unwavering stance, BJP leadership remains open to considering alternative candidates from his family or suggestions from within the party. However, they await the verdict of the MP/MLA court in Delhi before arriving at the final decision.

Sources suggest that the BJP will announce the list of candidates for all 12 constituencies, including Mainpuri, Rae Bareli, Ghazipur, Ballia, Bhadohi, Machhlishahr, Prayagraj, Phulpur, Kaushambi, Deoria, Firozabad, and Kaiserganj,  following the court’s ruling.

The unfolding developments underscore the intricacies surrounding candidate selection within the BJP as the electoral landscape intensifies ahead of the impending polls.