First Dancing With Guns, Now Flouting Covid Norms: Is Pranav Singh Champion's Return A Self-Goal By BJP?

The new video has not only put Champion in trouble, but has thrown the entire party into question over its decision of revoking the suspension of a leader who has time and again displayed a distasteful demeanor in public.

Image: Facebook

Out of the frying pan and into the fire. Bharatiya Janta Party’s controversial Uttarakhand  MLA, Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion, who is known for his serial public misconduct, has now been reinstated into the party, but has soon managed to stir up another controversy. A video showing Champion flouting the social distancing norms while he is on his way to his assembly constituency Khanpur, at the time when India is witnessing a huge number of Covid-19 cases daily, is going viral. The video has not only put Champion in trouble, but has thrown the entire party into question over its decision of revoking the suspension of a leader who has time and again displayed a distasteful demeanor in public. As per reports, Champion's team has refuted the video as an old one. Previously, disciplinary action was taken against Champion for a video in which he was seen brandishing guns and dancing to peppy numbers. In this latest video, Champion is on his way with a motorcade of supporters, flouting pandemic norms. The video has been eliciting reactions from people, with many criticizing the leader for being back in his “true avatar”. Several people have also criticised party for revoking his suspension. The party on Monday revoked the suspension of the Khanpur MLA, in a move which does not put it in a good stead. Pradesh Party president  Bansidhar Bhagat welcomed Champion back to the party and said     that his suspension was revoked after he apologised for his conduct. The decision to revoke his suspension was taken collectively by the core committee of the party based on the legislator's conduct during the last 13 months of his suspension, he said. Also Watch: It is to be noted that Champion was suspended from the party in June last year initially for three months on charges of breach of party discipline which was extended indefinitely just a month later after the video surfaced in which he was seen dancing with guns in both his hands and a third one grabbed in his mouth. An old picture of Pranav Singh Champion posted by him on his social media account. Champion offered repeated apologies and said he even worked for the party even during his suspension. "I was sorry then and I apologise again today with folded hands for what I did. But even during the 13-month period of my suspension I worked for the programmes and policies of the BJP," he said. Champion, a former arm-wrestler had earlier challenged a fellow MLA to a wrestling match to settle scores. Another time, he triggered a controversy by opening fire at a dinner party. He has been formally associated with party for four years only and yet BJP seems to be pretty forgiving towards him, hinting that Champion has a good hold over his constituency.