Meerut, 26 April (HS): Arun Govil, the BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Meerut, who played Lord Ram in the renowned television series Ramayan in the 1980s, denied being an outsider in the seat on Friday. “I'm not sure who you mean by outsider... Many individuals here have children who depart for America after Class 10 and never return. Then they'll be considered outsiders. Outsiders are not referred to as such. I was born and raised in this community. I even completed my education here. Then how am I an outsider?”

Arun Govil, is making his electoral debut, stated in answer to a journalist's questioning. I'd want to invite everyone to vote. Voting percentages should always be high. We have a responsibility to the nation as well as a right to ourselves. We must utilize our rights... We will absolutely breach the 400-mark, he added.

Polling in Uttar Pradesh's eight parliamentary seats, including Meerut, began at 7 a.m. on Friday in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections.

In Meerut, Arun Govil is up against the Samajwadi Party's Dalit candidate Sunita Verma in what promises to be an intriguing struggle. Arun Govil (66) succeeds Rajendra Agarwal, a three-time MP who has held the Meerut seat since 2004. Veteran actor joined the BJP in 2021 and complimented Prime Minister Modi's policies and efforts to change political narratives.

Hindusthan Samachar/Abhishek Awasthi/Manoj