Samajwadi Party fields sacked BSF jawan Tej Bahadur Yadav against PM Narendra Modi from Varanasi

Earlier last month, Yadav said he wanted to contest the polls to eliminate corruption in the forces.

In January 2017, Havildar Tej Bahadur Yadav of the BSF had posted a video on social media claiming the jawans were served very poor food because their seniors embezzled their rations. An inquiry found Yadav guilty of indiscipline and he was sacked. / Tej Bahadur Yadav. (Picture: Facebook profile)

LUCKNOW: Tej Bahadur Yadav, former Border Security Force (BSF) constable whose videos on the "substandard food" served to soldiers on social media had created a massive uproar, will be fighting Lok Sabha elections on Samajwadi Party ticket. The party on Monday announced Yadav’s candidacy through Twitter replacing SP's Shalini Yadav.  He would take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Varanasi constituency during the Lok Sabha Election 2019. Yadav was dismissed in 2017 after he posted a video online complaining about the food served to the troops.

सेना के जवान तेज़ बहादुर जी को वाराणसी से समाजवादी पार्टी का टिकट दिया गया है।

— Samajwadi Party (@samajwadiparty) April 29, 2019

Earlier last month, Tej Bahadur Yadav had said that he would contest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi constituency as an independent candidate. Yadav also said he wanted to contest the polls to eliminate corruption in the forces. "I had raised the issue of corruption but I was sacked. My first objective will be to strengthen and eliminate corruption in the forces," he said. Varanasi will go to polls in the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha election on May 19 and the last date for filing nomination is Monday (April 29). In January 2017, Havildar Tej Bahadur Yadav of the BSF had posted a video on social media claiming the jawans were served very poor food because their seniors embezzled their rations. An inquiry found Yadav guilty of indiscipline and he was sacked. Yadav had shown a meal box containing a watery dal, which he claimed had only turmeric and salt, and a burnt chapatti. Claiming he was "mentally tortured", Yadav had expressed apprehension that his seniors may take action against him for speaking the unvarnished truth of soldiers posted on the border. The videos triggered a massive outrage across the nation, but the BSF dismissed his allegations. The Summary Security Force Court (SSFC) conducted the proceedings against Yadav following charges under the provision of the BSF Act and Rules:

• An act prejudicial to good order and discipline of the force in which he made false allegations on social media regarding the quality of food and did not adhere to formal grievance redressal mechanism of the force.
• Neglect to obey general orders of the force in which he carried two mobile phones while on operational duty against the SOP and also posted photographs in uniform on social media in contravention of instructions.

Yadav's son was found dead in January at his residence in Shanti Vihar in Rewari. According to news agency ANI, Rohit was found dead lying on his bed by police officials. Yadav was away for a religious pilgrimage to Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj when the incident happened.