Lok Sabha polls: Congress replaces Sunil Sharma in Jaipur for his links with right-wing platform The Jaipur Dialogues
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Jaipur, Mar 25: In a significant development, the Congress on Sunday dropped Sunil Sharma as its Lok Sabha nominee from Rajasthan’s Jaipur after a controversy erupted over his alleged association with right-wing platform The Jaipur Dialogues. Sharma’s candidature from the constituency was announced on Thursday. He has been replaced Sharma with former Cabinet minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas.
Sharma and his family have had a long association with the Congress. He is also the chairman and chancellor of the Suresh Gyan Vihar University in Jaipur.
Congress releases the fifth list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
— ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2024
Pratap Singh Khachariyawas to contest from Jaipur, in place of Sunil Sharma. pic.twitter.com/F8LUSCwxYi
Shashi Tharoor criticise Sunil Sharma
On Saturday, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticised the party for giving a ticket to Sharma despite his alleged association with The Jaipur Dialogues.
Tharoor had shared a post from the platform regarding him and said: "He [Sharma] must have undergone some sort of Pauline epiphany on the road to 24 Akbar". Notably, Sharma has been featured in some videos posted on the channel. On November 5, Sharma was a panellist in a debate hosted by The Jaipur Dialogues on "Digital Divide in India – AI and Civilisation".
He must have undergone some sort of Pauline epiphany on the road to 24 Akbar! This is just one of several dozen tweets from his handle attacking me:https://t.co/mJy9ZyBWG0 https://t.co/3DjWW8dtbq
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) March 23, 2024
However, Sharma had distanced himself from the platform on Saturday. "I have never had anything to do with the management of the Jaipur Dialogue YouTube channel. I am often invited on all news channels and YouTube channels as a panellist on building an inclusive India as per the Congress philosophy".
मेरा जयपुर डाइलॉग यू ट्यूब चैनल के प्रबंधन से कभी भी कोई वास्ता नहीं रहा। मैं सभी न्यूज़ चैनल्स और यूट्यूब चैनल्स पर अक्सर कांग्रेस दर्शन अनुसार समावेशी भारत निर्माण पर पैनलिस्ट के तौर पर आमंत्रित किया जाता हूँ। (1/5) pic.twitter.com/2VpsXPCLkT
— Sunil Sharma (@I_SunilSharma) March 23, 2024
Sharma said that The Jaipur Dialogue’s YouTube channel had invited him to speak on various social issues to express the Congress’ vision. He added, “I have long ago severed ties with the directorship of Jaipur Dialogue Forum (which has nothing to do with the ownership of YouTube) about which some people, due to their vested interests, are spreading rumours.”
The BJP has not yet announced its candidate for the Jaipur constituency. Rajasthan's Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to take place in two phases, on April 19 and April 26.