The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday named HS Patel as its candidate from the Ahmedabad East parliamentary constituency in Gujarat, replacing its sitting MP and film actor Paresh Rawal.
Rawal had become one of the most vocal supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi particularly on social media while promoting the Hindutva ideology.
Rawal had earlier said that he was not keen on contesting this year’s Lok Sabha polls. He was quoted by news agency ANI as saying, “I had told the party four to five months ago that I do not want to contest the elections. But, ultimately it is the party’s decision.”
Reacting to Patel’s announcement as the new candidate from his constituency, Rawal tweeted, “Flying out of Chennai to my constituency to congratulate and support our BJP candidate from amdavad east Shri H.S. Patel. Am sure and certain that he will win with thunderous margin and excel in his duties as Member of Parliament.”
Flying out of chennai to my constituency to congratulate and support our BJP candidate from amdavad east Shri H.S . Patel . Am sure and certain that he will win with thunderous margin and excel in his duties as Member of Parliament.
— Chowkidar Paresh Rawal (@SirPareshRawal) April 4, 2019
Rawal’s clarification aside, party insiders say that his constituents weren’t very happy with their MP’s absence in the area in the last five years. Rawal often faced allegations of spending more time on his film commitments than visiting his constituency.