The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is reportedly considering dropping its sitting Member of Parliament from Kaiserganj, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, in light of allegations of sexual harassment leveled against him by women wrestlers. Sources suggest that instead, the party may nominate his son, Karan Bhushan Singh, to contest from the constituency in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Karan Bhushan Singh, who currently serves as the president of the Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Association, is being considered as a potential candidate for the seat, with polling scheduled for the fifth phase of the elections on May 20.
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who held the position of president of the Wrestling Federation of India for nearly ten years, faced accusations of sexual harassment from six women wrestlers. The allegations sparked a significant protest led by prominent Indian wrestlers like Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. Following the protest, the Delhi Police registered a case against Brij Bhushan Singh in June 2023. However, he was subsequently granted bail on July 20, 2023. The Delhi court is yet to announce its decision on framing charges against the six-term BJP MP.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh secured victory from Kaiserganj by a margin of two lakh votes. Despite the allegations and protests, he remained defiant, asserting that the BJP faced no real challenge in the constituency. However, amid mounting pressure and controversy, the party leadership is now reportedly contemplating a change in candidacy for the seat, potentially opting for a fresh face in the form of his son, Karan Bhushan Singh.
