Lok Sabha Elections 2024: BJP MP Ram Shankar Katheria’s wife to contest against him for UP’s Etawah seat

financialexpress.com:

Mridula Katheria, the wife of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Etawah MP Ram Shankar Katheria, has filed nomination papers as an Independent candidate for the Etawah Lok Sabha seat, just four days after her husband filed his nomination from the same seat.

This move comes as a surprise to many, especially considering Mridula’s past actions during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections when she initially filed nomination papers but later withdrew. After her withdrawal, her husband, Ram Shankar Katheria, secured victory for the BJP, defeating SP’s Kamlesh Kumar by a significant margin of over 64,000 votes.

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In a conversation with the media on Wednesday, Mridula expressed her determination to contest the upcoming election, “Nomination papers are filed not to be withdrawn. I will contest the election… This is my birthright.”

Reacting to his wife’s decision, Ram Shankar Katheria, a three-time MP, stated, “She (Mridula) files nomination papers every time and withdraws. This is her decision to contest the election.”

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Amid speculation surrounding Mridula’s candidacy, a senior BJP leader suggested that her filing of nomination papers could be viewed as a “precautionary measure,” hinting at a strategic move within the party.

“In case, there are any issues with Ram Shankar’s nominations, this would ensure that she could contest the election with the support of the party,” the BJP leader said, as The Indian Express reported.

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