The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated Arun Govil, the celebrated actor renowned for portraying Lord Ram in the iconic TV series Ramayan, as its candidate for the Meerut constituency in Uttar Pradesh, for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Arun Govil’s nomination comes as a replacement for three-time MP Rajendra Agarwal, who has represented the Meerut seat since 2004. The announcement was made on Sunday as part of the BJP’s fifth list of candidates, marking a significant shift in the political landscape of Meerut.
Expressing gratitude, Arun Govil took to his social media platforms to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the selection committee for bestowing upon him the opportunity to contest from his hometown in the Lok Sabha elections.
This move echoes a similar instance from 1996 when Nitish Bhardwaj, known for his portrayal of Lord Krishna in the epic TV series Mahabharata, was fielded as a BJP candidate and emerged victorious. Bhardwaj contested from Jamshedpur constituency and secured a win, marking a notable transition from screen to politics.
Despite Arun Govil’s widespread recognition stemming from his portrayal of Lord Ram in Ramayan, his journey in the entertainment industry dates back to the 1977 film ‘Paheli’. It was his portrayal of the revered deity that propelled him to stardom and garnered immense respect from audiences across the nation.
The Lok Sabha elections, spanning across 543 constituencies, are set to be conducted in seven phases starting from April 19 and concluding on June 1, with vote counting scheduled for June 4. As Arun Govil steps into the political arena, all eyes are on Meerut to witness the unfolding of this new chapter in his journey.
