External vs Local Candidate Debate Meaningless: Former MP Atul Rai Questions AK Sharma’s Statement

New Delhi/Mau(Ishan Samvad),Reacting to Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Arvind Kumar Sharma’s remark urging voters of Ghhosi and Mau not to elect “outsiders”, former MP Atul Rai said that the “outsider vs local” narrative is politically motivated and impractical in today’s democratic structure.

Atul Rai stated that he himself was called an outsider in his own village when he contested for the post of Gram Pradhan, only because he had been living in Varanasi for work. He said he has become used to such remarks.

He questioned the BJP leadership with pointed examples:

• Why did Prime Minister Narendra Modi contest from Varanasi after Gujarat?
• Why has Rajnath Singh contested from different constituencies such as Chandauli, Ghaziabad and Lucknow?
• Across the country, many leaders are elected from constituencies other than their native region.

He added that if BJP fields non-local candidates in Lucknow, Varanasi and Gorakhpur, then objecting only in Ghhosi and Mau raises questions about the intention behind such statements.

The political circles of Mau are actively discussing AK Sharma’s remarks, while opposition parties have sharply criticized his statement, calling it unnecessary and divisive.