The BJP on Thursday announced Karan Bhushan Singh as its candidate for the Kaiserganj Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh, opting not to field his father, Brij Bhushan Singh, the former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president. Brij Bhushan Singh has been accused of sexual harassment by six women wrestlers.
This marks the first instance where the saffron party has replaced its incumbent MP from Kaiserganj, who has held the seat since 2009. Opting for his son, who is relatively new to politics, the party appears to be striking a balance. Singh had persisted in his electoral bid, launching his campaign in the constituency despite the controversy.
Karan, born in 1990, is the youngest son of Brij Bhushan Singh. He holds a law degree and has pursued a business management course in Australia, in addition to being a national-level double-trap shooter.
In February 2024, Karan succeeded his father as the president of the Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Association, a position Brij Bhushan held for 12 years. Prior to his presidency, Karan served as the association’s vice-president for eight years.
However, Karan’s appointment faced opposition from various athletes, including Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik. They contended that the government had assured that neither Brij Bhushan nor his relatives or associates would oversee the sport.
Apart from his involvement in wrestling, Karan also serves as the chief of the Cooperative Village Development Bank in Gonda.
In the upcoming elections, the BSP has nominated Narendra Pandey as its candidate from Kaiserganj, while the SP is yet to announce its contender. The deadline for filing nomination papers is Friday, with the seat set for polling on May 20 during the fifth phase of elections.