Varanasi: Comedian Shyam Rangeela on Tuesday filed nomination as an independent candidate for Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh.
Shyam Rangeela gained attention after he claimed in a video that he was denied entry to the district magistrate’s office as PM Modi was scheduled to file his papers.
The prime minister, representing the constituency since 2014, filed papers around 11.40 am on Tuesday.
Rangeela had been alleging difficulties in submitting his nomination since May 10, according to NDTV.
In a letter to the Election Commission on Monday he alleged that nomination process was slow, causing candidates to wait outside the office of the returning officer.
Rangeela said his “electoral future is in the hands of all the election officials who are the guardians of our democracy”, adding that other candidates had same difficulties.
On May 2, Rangeela announced that he would be contesting against the prime minister.
In a video he said “India’s democracy allows anyone to contest elections,” adding. “The reason behind my decision to fight elections is to ensure that what we saw in Surat, Chandigarh and Indore should not be repeated in Varanasi. People should have an option if they want to vote against a candidate. They have a right to do so.”