BJP, SP rivals take their electoral battle to wrestling pit, score love-all
Political rivals from the BJP and Samajwadi Party in Varanasi engaged in a friendly wrestling match during traditional Nag Panchami celebrations. The bout ended in a draw, highlighting a unique intersection of local politics and cultural tradition.
Why it matters
It serves as a human-interest story demonstrating how traditional sports can temporarily bridge intense political divides in local Indian governance.
VARANASI: A political rivalry took an unexpected turn on Monday when Samajwadi Party functionary Aman Yadav and BJP councillor’s husband Ram Singh Kallu traded electoral battles for wrestling moves, facing off in a bout at the Bachau Veer Akhara on the Banaras Hindu University campus during Nag Panchami celebrations.After a 15-minute contest in which both tried several wrestling moves to overpower the other, neither could gain the upper hand, leaving the referee with little choice but to declare the match a draw. The cash prize was subsequently divided between the two.Kallu’s wife Geeta Singh and Yadav had previously contested against each other in the councillor election from the same ward. Yadav was the SP candidate, while Kallu’s wife contested on a BJP ticket and defeated him in the electoral battle.Wrestling competitions in Kashi’s akharas are a long-standing Nag Panchami tradition.
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