“People Touch My Feet Because They Believe in Lord Ram,” says Arun Govil, “but I don’t know Rajneeti.”

In Meerut, men, women, and kids of all ages swarm to touch Arun Govil’s feet wherever he goes. When questioned why they were doing this, a group of young ladies said, “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)”.

The BJP’s unexpected candidate for the Lok Sabha election, Govil, is from Meerut and claims he is overcome with love. Bhagwan Ram does not go here or there; he is in kann kann (everywhere). Indeed, Arun Govil, who portrayed Lord Ram in the Ramayana, has made an appearance here. People pay homage to their faith in Lord Ram, even if they do not really touch my feet. In his first exclusive interview with News18 since arriving in Meerut on Tuesday, Govil said, “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).”

After the election of Govil, Meerut has gained prominence. On March 31, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin campaigning for him in Uttar Pradesh with a sizable gathering in Meerut.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had earlier said from a platform that Arun Govil would now be aware of Meerut’s identity. He also noted how well-liked his depiction of Lord Ram in the 1987–1988 television series Ramayan is to this day.

“I WON’T DO POLITICS AND I DON’T KNOW POLITICS.”
“You may call it a political entry, but in reality, rajeenti mujhse hoti nahi aur naa mein karunga (I am not knowledgeable about politics and I will not engage in them) is the truth. I just felt that I needed to help the populace. I was given the Meerut seat, and this land’s affection has brought me back. There is no place like Meerut. I’ll strive toward further growth by doing sewa, or labor, with all of my love and empathy, Govil told News18.

According to Arun Govil, he spent the first seventeen years of his life in Meerut, where he was born. “I attended Government Inter College and Saraswati Shishu Mandir in Meerut. My college used to shut down for a month after a student was killed each year. However, see the current changes in Meerut. This is my return home, or ghar wapasi. Meerut has grown into a megacity; I can’t even recognize it anymore,” Govil said to News18. Although he had not yet been back to his birthplace, he hinted that it may have undergone changes as well.

Samajwadi Party opponents of Govil have called him an outsider with little knowledge of Meerut and said he will resign from the seat if elected. “Why wouldn’t I give Meerut some time? At 17, I had moved out to pursue employment and further my career. I’m back now. I usually do tasks after giving them careful consideration, along with a goal and certain principles. I never act impulsively and then regret my decision or forget about it. I’m a principled and honest thinker. “Life is a journey, Jeevan hai hi ek safar,” he said to News18.

Govil was present on January 22 at the Ram temple in Ayodhya for the pran pratishtha (consecration) ritual. When our temple was absent from Ayodhya, I used to be depressed when I visited, but now we feel that there is a magnificent Ram temple there. A standard has been established by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.

THE BJP’S CHANGE
The BJP has attempted a larger gambit in western Uttar Pradesh, which has been engulfed in Hindu-Muslim politics for the last ten years, by appointing Govil from Meerut. Rajendra Agrawal, its three-time MP from Meerut, has been dropped.

Nonetheless, Govil acknowledged Agrawal’s contribution to Meerut’s growth.

There have been rumors that the BJP may field an outsider. However, Agrawal has worked with Govil to make sure the transfer goes well. It is normal for there to be change (parivartan toh hota hai). We already love Govil because of how Ram has portrayed him. Govil is where Ram was born, and the Ram temple was built there, Agrawal said in News18.

Although Meerut has always been one of the BJP’s safer seats, it was challenging for Rajendra Agrawal to win again after three terms. Therefore, it’s a good thing that the BJP has switched candidates, and it’s even better that Arun Govil has been selected. He’s going to win by an unprecedented margin,” many residents of Meerut’s Shastri Market told News18.

Govil is referring to the BJP’s accomplishments, which include the 12-lane Meerut Expressway, which has cut the travel time to Delhi to only 45 minutes, the Rs 32,000-crore RapidX project, and the Meerut Metro project. “I’ll keep going,” he declares.