Lok Sabha polls: On SP’s symbol, ex-BSF jawan Tej Bahadur Yadav to take on PM Modi in Varanasi

It is going to be a fight between the real chowkidar vs fake chowkidar in the Lok Sabha polls in Varanasi.

In an unanticipated move, Samajwadi Party (SP) has replaced its erstwhile Varanasi candidate Shalini Yadav with ex-BSF jawan Tej Bahadur Yadav.

Tej Bahadur Yadav had hit the headline in 2017 after he complained of poor-quality food being served to the security forces serving at the border areas.

A video featuring Yadav in army fatigue went viral. National Herald was the first to report on the issue.

Yadav was dismissed following a departmental inquiry. He was found guilty of violating the SOP (standard operating procedure). The charges against him included carrying two mobile phones while on active duty and posting his photographs in uniform on social media.

“I had raised the issue of corruption, but I was sacked. My first objective will be to strengthen and eliminate corruption in the forces,” Yadav was quoted as saying by the media.

Yadav had already filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate from Varanasi seat, but after SP announcement, he will now be contesting on the SP symbol.

Shalini Yadav too had filed her nomination from Varanasi but she will sit back or withdraw her papers.

Earlier in March this year, Tej Bahadur had expressed his intentions for taking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi.

Varanasi will go to polls in the seventh phase on May 19.