Arun Govil, renowned for his iconic portrayal of Lord Ram in the TV series “Ramayan,” made headlines when he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on March 18, 2021, in New Delhi. The actor-turned-politician contested the Lok Sabha elections from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. Despite trailing in the morning, Govil emerged victorious by the end of the day.
Arun Govil faced a challenging start, trailing behind in the initial vote counts, but ultimately defeated Samajwadi Party candidate Sunita Verma. According to the Election Commission of India, Govil secured his win with a margin of around ten thousand votes. The final tally showed Govil with 546,469 votes, Sunita Verma with 535,884 votes, and Bahujan Samaj Party leader Devvrat Tyagi with 87,025 votes.
The competition between BJP’s Arun Govil and Samajwadi Party’s Sunita Verma was intense. On April 26, Meerut witnessed a voter turnout of 58.70 percent, reflecting the high stakes and engagement in the election.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, BJP’s Rajendra Agarwal won the Meerut seat with 586,184 votes, defeating Haji Mohammad Yaqoob of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) by a margin of 4,729 votes. Yaqoob garnered a total of 581,455 votes, highlighting the competitive nature of this constituency.
The Meerut Lok Sabha Constituency encompasses parts of both Meerut and Hapur districts and is one of the 80 Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh. Meerut, a bustling trade center in western Uttar Pradesh, is famously known as the “sports city of India” due to its thriving sports goods industry.
In the broader political landscape, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, has surpassed the majority in early results with around 300 seats. Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc is unexpectedly leading in more than 230 seats. Many exit polls had predicted another term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with several even anticipating a two-thirds majority for the ruling BJP-led NDA.
Arun Govil’s transition from the revered television character of Lord Ram to a victorious political figure underscores his widespread appeal and adaptability. His win in Meerut marks a significant milestone in his new political journey, reflecting both his personal popularity and the enduring strength of the BJP in the region.