Ballia, 11 April (Hindus). Neeraj Shekhar became emotional after getting BJP ticket from the traditional parliamentary seat of former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar. He told “Hindusthan Samachar” on telephone on Thursday that his family has an emotional connection with Ballia. BJP leadership respects my father.
From 1977 till now, the only Lok Sabha election in 2019 was when Chandrashekhar or anyone from his family was not in the electoral fray for Ballia Lok Sabha seat. Chandrashekhar himself contested elections from this seat from 1977 to 2004. After his death, his younger son Neeraj Shekhar contested elections as a Samajwadi Party candidate in 2007, 2009 and 2014. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Samajwadi Party had fielded Sanatan Pandey by canceling the ticket of Neeraj Shekhar, son of former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar. Angered Neeraj Shekhar had left both the membership of Samajwadi Party and Rajya Sabha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's relations with former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar have been smooth. Therefore, Neeraj Shekhar had no problem in joining BJP. BJP had also sent him to Rajya Sabha. Chandrashekhar's association with this parliamentary seat is also considered important for Neeraj Shekhar being made the candidate by cutting the ticket of Virendra Singh Mast in this Lok Sabha election. Neeraj Shekhar looked emotional while expressing his feelings after getting the ticket.
He said that his father had been contesting elections from this seat since 1977. For the last fifteen years, I have been trying to ensure that no harm comes to my father's name. Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Modi, National President JP Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Yogi, he said that all these leaders have had faith in him. Thanks to the top leadership that they considered it worthy for me to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Ballia again. For me this is an experience which cannot be described in words. When I could not contest the Lok Sabha elections in 2014, I felt personally very guilty because neither my father nor I had been contesting elections since 1977. Now again I have got this opportunity that I am contesting elections. For this I express my gratitude to all the top leadership including Prime Minister Modi. Referring to big development works like Greenfield Expressway and Purvanchal Expressway, Neeraj Shekhar said that in the next five years, my effort will be to bring some industries.