2024-05-04 02:25:00
Bhopal: This time 22 candidates, including Rajinikanth lookalike Abdul Tahir, hockey player and former special DG, are in the fray from Bhopal. However, the number of candidates has reduced compared to the previous elections, when there were 30 candidates. Some of these candidates are contesting as independents, some from regional parties, while some are from national parties.
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Form filled from Mumbai also
Advocate Abdul Tahir alias Bablu Rajinikanth, who is contesting the elections for the fifteenth time, says, ‘During the lockdown, my beard grew and then people started saying that I look like Rajinikanth. That’s when I saw many of his films. Now my look is the same as it was in Kaala and Kabali.
That’s why we are contesting elections
On why he is contesting elections even though he looks like Rajinikanth, Tahir says, ‘My main agenda is to provide justice to the victims of Bhopal gas tragedy. I have been working for this for a long time because I am also a lawyer. This is my 15th election and third term in the Lok Sabha elections. I have contested assembly elections, mayor elections and councilor elections since 2004. He says, ‘I am also going to contest from some constituencies in Mumbai because my party wants to field me from there.’ Tahir is contesting the elections on Bahujan Maha Party ticket.
Tea kettle, baby walker, slippers… the story of election symbols in the country is interesting.
Retired senior police officer and former special DG Maithili Sharan Gupta is also in the fray from Bhopal seat. He has filed independent nomination. He said, ‘This is my first election and I want to draw everyone’s attention towards the issue that the country can be made crime free. The fundamental right to employment can also be given, the country can also be made tax and debt free, a big change can be brought about, people’s attention should be drawn towards these issues and a big change can happen. This is my objective behind contesting elections. I am meeting people one by one with my election symbol balloon. On an average, I am interacting with 500-1000 people every day.
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Betul resident Akshay Gothi is also among the 22 candidates. Gothi belongs to the family of freedom fighter late Birdhichand ji Gothi of Betul. Gothi, who was once a hockey player, is contesting from Bhopal seat. Meanwhile, Congress has fielded advocate Arun Srivastava and BJP has fielded former Bhopal mayor Alok Sharma. Overall there are about 23 lakh voters in Bhopal. Voting will be held on 7th May at 2097 polling stations.