Wherever Arun Govil goes in Meerut, men, women, and children of all ages flock to touch his feet. “Ravan ke sasural mein Ram aaye hain (Ram has come to Ravan’s in-laws’ place, since his wife Mandodri is believed to be from Meerut)," said a group of young women when asked why they were doing so.
Govil, BJP’s surprise Lok Sabha poll candidate from Meerut, says he is overwhelmed by the love. “Bhagwan Ram is in kann kann (everywhere), he does not come here or there. But, yes, a man has come here whose name is Arun Govil and who played the character of Lord Ram in Ramayan. People do not touch my feet per se but they pay obeisance to their belief in Lord Ram. Woh unki aastha hai Ram mein jiske prati woh naman karte hain, ab unko swaroop mil gaya hai Arun Govil naam ka (people have found a symbol of Lord Ram in me)," Govil told News18, in his first exclusive interview since coming to Meerut on Tuesday.
Meerut has become a high-profile seat with Govil’s arrival. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will canvass for him on March 31, kicking off his Uttar Pradesh campaign with a big rally in Meerut.
Earlier from a stage, chief minister Yogi Adityanath said Meerut’s identity will now be known by Arun Govil and mentioned how his portrayal of Lord Ram in the 1987-88 TV series Ramayan remains popular even today.
‘I don’t know politics, won’t do politics’
“You can term it a so-called political entry, but the reality is rajeenti mujhse hoti nahi aur naa mein karunga (I do not know politics, nor will I do politics). I just thought I should do something for the people. I got the Meerut seat, and there is no better place than Meerut, and this land’s love has brought me back. I will do all with the love and empathy I have and I will do sewa (work) for more development," Govil told News18.
Arun Govil said that he was born in Meerut and stayed here for the first 17 years of his life. “I studied in Saraswati Shishu Mandir and Government Inter College in Meerut. Every year, a student used to be murdered and my college would remain closed for a month. But see the development now in Meerut. It is my ghar wapasi (homecoming). I cannot even recognise Meerut today, it has become a mega city," Govil told News18. He was yet to visit the area where he was born but said that place may also have changed.
Govil’s opponents from the Samajwadi Party have termed him an outsider who knows nothing about Meerut and say he would go away and not work for the seat if elected. “Why would I not give time to Meerut? I had left at 17 for work and to build my career. Now I am back. I always do work after putting thought into it and with a vision and ideals. I do not do anything on impulse and change my mind or forget about it. I have intellectual honesty and principles. Jeevan hai hi ek safar (Life is a journey)," he told News18.
Govil was present during the pran pratishtha (consecration) ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22. “I used to feel sad about going to Ayodhya in earlier years as our temple was not there, but now we feel a grand temple is there of Ram. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Yogi Adityanath have set a benchmark," he added.
BJP’s change
By putting up Govil from Meerut, the BJP has tried a bigger gambit in western UP, which has been roiled by Hindu-Muslim politics for the past decade. It has dropped its three-time MP, Rajendra Agrawal, from Meerut.
Govil though credited Agrawal for the development of Meerut.
There have been some murmurs about an outsider to the BJP being fielded. But Agrawal has been alongside Govil to ensure a smooth transition. “Parivartan toh hota hai (change happens), this is natural. Govil is already in our hearts for Ram’s portrayal. Ram temple was made in Ram’s birthplace and Govil is in his birthplace," Agrawal told News18.
Locals say Meerut has been one of the safest seats for the BJP but it was difficult for Rajendra Agrawal to win again after three terms. “So it is good that the BJP has changed its candidate, and even better that Arun Govil has been chosen to be the one. He will win with a record margin," a group of locals in Meerut’s Shastri Market told News18.
Govil is talking about the 12-lane Meerut Expressway that has reduced the travel time to Delhi to just 45 minutes, the Rs 32,000-crore RapidX project, and the Meerut Metro project among the BJP’s achievements. “I will continue further," he says.
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