Renowned comedian Shyam Rangeela, famed for his spot-on impersonations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, startled the nation with a bold declaration on Wednesday: he intends to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections directly against PM Modi in Varanasi.

In a poignant post on X, Rangeela expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support pouring in since his announcement to vie for the Varanasi seat. He pledged to articulate his vision and election strategy through an upcoming video message, set to be released upon his arrival in Varanasi. In an earlier missive, Rangeela hinted at the uncertainty surrounding election nominations, stating, “Varanasi beckons, for in these times, even the most certain may hesitate.”

Addressing the press, he reflected on his past allegiance to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2014 elections, recounting his active promotion of the BJP through various video endorsements. Yet, he emphasized the transformative shift in his perspective over the last decade, culminating in his decision to challenge the Prime Minister as an independent candidate in the upcoming polls.

Asserting his candidacy as a pivotal alternative for the electorate of Varanasi, Rangeela underscored the significance of providing voters with genuine choices, a privilege he believes was lacking in past elections in Surat and Indore. With resolve, he declared his imminent journey to Varanasi to file his nomination, solidifying his commitment to contest against PM Modi. On April 25, Rangeela turned to his social media followers, seeking their input on his potential candidacy as an Independent contender for the Varanasi constituency.