Hans Raj Hans has been picked for North West Delhi instead of Udit Raj
Singer Hans Raj Hans was today named one of the seven BJP candidates for Delhi, which votes on May 12.
Hans Raj Hans has been picked for North West Delhi instead of Udit Raj, who had threatened to resign if he was dropped. Hans Raj Hans, a popular Punjabi folk and Sufi singer, joined the BJP in 2016.
He debuted in politics in 2009 as a member of the Akali Dal and also contested the elections from his hometown Jalandhar. He lost. In 2014, he joined the Congress. Two years later, he switched again.
Today, the 57-year-old wore a saffron jacket as he stopped to pray at a temple before filing his nomination. Asked by reporters whether he would win as BJP candidate, he pointed skywards and said: "Jo malik ka hukum (whatever God decides)." He was more expressive later. "I have been a warrior since my childhood, I have to win. I am the son of a farm labourer, it is in my genes to work hard. I consider PM Modi my hero," he told reporters.
Udit Raj had merged his Indian Justice Party with the BJP in February 2014 and later won the election from North West Delhi. The BJP won all seven seats in Delhi in the 2014 election.
Hans Raj will contest against Congress' Rajesh Lilothia and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s Gugan Singh.
Former cricketer Gautam Gambhir will contest from East Delhi. He replaces Maheish Girri and will take on Arvinder Singh Lovely of the Congress and Atishi of AAP.
Meenakshi Lekhi will contest from South Delhi. She faces Congress's Ajay Maken and AAP's Brajesh Goel.
Union Minister Harsh Vardhan and BJP state unit president Manoj Tiwari will contest in Chandni Chowk and North East Delhi. Former Delhi Chief Minister Saheb Singh Verma's son Parvesh Verma has been fielded in West Delhi and Ramesh Bidhuri in South Delhi.