With only two phases remaining in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, political leaders are giving their best in the campaigning. In Uttar Pradesh, Mahagathbandhan partners SP and BSP organised a joint rally at Jonpur today, which was addressed by Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati.
Although the SP and BSP leadership was present in full strength in the rally, an unexpected presence in the program has surprised many. While the mahagathbandhan leaders were addressing the rally, NDTV India journalist Ravish Kumar was seen standing on the stage. There is no news of Ravish Kumar joining either SP or BSP, hence it has raised the question of what was he doing on the stage of an election rally.
https://twitter.com/SujeetBhartiya/status/1125768256982323206?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The presence of journalists in elections rallies is expected, because they have to attend such rallies to report them for their media houses. But for that journalists take the place reserved for the press at such events, and they don’t take note of speeches by standing on the stage. Hence it clearly suggests that Ravish Kumar was attending the rally as a participant, not as a journalist.
https://twitter.com/bhak_sala/status/1125772394713346048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
It may be noted that Ravish Kumar had never hidden his hatred for BJP, so it should not be a big surprise in seeing him participating in an SP-BSP rally. Last year at an event moderated by Kumar, SP leader Akhilesh Yadav had said that he regretted not killing a journalist who had criticized him. Ravish Kumar had started the show by showering praises on Akhilesh Yadav’s tolerance.
Ravish Kumar can be seen on the stage in the video of the rally given below: