Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Meet Shyam Rangeela, the comedian contesting against PM Modi in Varanasi

Comedian Shyam Rangeela, known for his videos mimicking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has said he will contest Lok Sabha Elections 2024 against the Prime Minister from the Varanasi seat. 

The Varanasi parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh will go to poll in the seventh phase of voting in the Lok Sabha election on June 1. The results will be declared on June 4.

Rangeela made the of his decision on social media on May 1. 

, who won the seat twice in 2014 and 2019, is expected to file nomination from Varanasi on May 13.

Born and brought up in Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh, Rangeela studied animation. Rangeela is known for his mimicry skills, especially for impersonating political figures. He made a mark as a comedian by his comedy performances in ‘The Great Indian Laughter Challenge’.

Twenty-nine-year-old Rangeela shot to fame first time in 2017 when his impersonation of became widely popular on social media. Since then, Rangeela has been making videos mimicking the Prime Minister from his speeches and interviews.

Apart from PM Modi, Rangeela has also impersonated other political figures such as Rahul Gandhi. Rangeela has been critical of PM Modi and his policies.

In his election announcement video on May 1, Rangeela cited the BJP’s unopposed victory in the and the controversy in the Chandigarh mayoral polls. “I feel like it shouldn’t be that there is no other candidate to vote for. Even if one person wants to vote against a candidate, he or she has that right. Someone’s name should be on the EVM," he said,

Rangeela had joined (AAP) in 2002. However, later, he decided to work independently, saying that “he is his own master".

In one of the interviews, Rangeela had recounted his journey from being a supporter of PM Modi to a