Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s Importance For BJP Cannot Be Overlooked. Despite the nationwide mayhem over the sexual harassment allegation made by women wrestlers earlier this year, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh continued to participate in party programs and Parliament proceedings.
He came into the headlines again after his close associate Sanjay Singh who was the Vice President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) under Brij Bhushan Sharan before was removed from the post and appointed as the new president of WFI On, 21 December 2023 which created a fuss in the whole wrestling community. After this incident, the First Indian female wrestler Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik chose to retire stating ‘WILL NOT RETURN TO WRESTLING’.
This made us wonder who is Brij Bhuran Sharan Singh ?, why is he so powerful, and what makes him important for BJP.
Who Is Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh?
Gonda born, Singh is the six-time MP who won five times on a BJP ticket and once for the SP, is a powerful force that thrives in eastern UP politics. He is actively associated with more than 50 educational institutions including engineering, pharmacy, education, law, and others that he established in Bahraich, Gonda, Balrampur, Ayodhya, and Shravasti districts.
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He was also associated with the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, before his 2019 affidavit he was also associated with the Babri Masjid demolition case. Which helped him get the support of a large section of priests in Ayodhya.
“His image as a ‘dabang neta’ and his autorotation over several colleges, and also providing fee waivers to those poor students enrolled in his colleges. He has developed an empire in these districts. This makes him win elections due to both his clout and goodwill,” said a BJP leader in Gonda.
What does he contribute to the BJP?
A UP BJP leader said due to his influence in Kaiserganj he not only ensures victories for the party in the region but also has a fairly large influence in the Lok Sabha. This is due to his stronghold in Gonda and Bahraich, among others. This influence of Sings grants him a long rope from the party.
“After sexual harassment allegations, Singh has become a gale ki chaddi (an inconvenience) for the BJP. If BJP refuses him a ticket, he may join any other party, and because of this BJP will lose a seat. His varchasva (influence) in Kauserganj, Shravasti, Basti, and Ayodhya Lok Sabha constituencies. He cannot be ignored”, an RSS functionary in UP said.
To put this in perspective, his influence in Ayodhya region is so large that in 1996 when he was in jail in a TADA case, the BJP fielded his wife Ketaki Devi Singh in the Lok Sabha pools and she won.
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How far along are the legal actions against the MP?
Two FIRs were registered against Singh in April 2023 in which one was based on a complaint by six women wrestlers and the other one was registered based on a complaint by a minor also a wrestler, and her father. The Delhi Police filed a 1,500-page charge sheet against Singh on June 15 for alleged sexual harassment, assault, and stalking.
The wrestler’s case was heard earlier in the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Harjeet Singh Jaspal. But since he was promoted, the arguments will be heard from scratch in Priyanka Rajpoot’s courtroom from January.
Does the BJP fear retaliation in Haryana?
Haryana has a very large Jat population and most of the protesting wrestlers were from there, which can harm the BJP in the Assembly polls next year. But the possibility of any political backlash was disregarded by a BJP leader in Haryana.
But another BJP leader did not seem so confident. “Wrestlers are in almost every village of Jat-dominated Haryana. The sentiment of the community is against the BJP due to its connections with Brij Bhushan. Now hatred against the BJP also fueled after his associate won the WFI post. People in Haryana do not at all like this situation, and it can severely harm the party in the Assembly polls next year if the Opposition raises the issue properly”
Jats constitute about 28% of Haryana’s population (a quarter of the electorate). Barring northern Haryana, the Jats have strongholds everywhere else in the state.
