Lok Sabha Elections 2024: YouTuber Manish Kashyap joins BJP, says "Lalu Yadav and family looted and destroyed Bihar"

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: YouTuber Manish Kashyap, who had been jailed for 9 months for allegedly sharing fake videos of Bihar migrants being harassed in Tamil Nadu, joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi on Thursday, April 25.

He joined the BJP in the presence of MP Manoj Tiwari, and his mother — whom he credited for the decision to join the saffron party. 

Kashyap told PTI, "Today I have joined the BJP. I will be working under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi. My mother had asked me to join the BJP."

Talking about what made him favour the BJP, Kashyap said, "I come from an ordinary family living in a 'kachcha house'. BJP has given me respect and that's why I got emotional."

VIDEO | Lok Sabha Polls 2024: Here's what YouTuber Manish Kashyap said after joining the BJP in Delhi today.

"Today I have joined the BJP. I will be working under the leadership of PM Modi. My mother had asked me to join the BJP. I come from an ordinary family living in a… pic.twitter.com/nIMMDdLP8u

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 25, 2024

He also credited the BJP for his release from jail, and said, "We came from Bihar with Manoj Tiwari, yesterday. I could be released from jail only due to them and the bad days of my life ended. So, I joined the BJP. We have to strengthen Bihar."

Taking a swipe at Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, he said, "Lalu family looted and destroyed Bihar. So, I joined the BJP. Together with BJP, I will strengthen Bihar."

Talking about his arrest and jail, he added, "Allegations were levelled against me but the Patna Court not only granted me bail but also acquitted me. NSA slapped on me was withdrawn. My fight against those who defame Sanatana (dharm) and those who are against nationalism will continue."

#WATCH | Delhi: After joining the BJP, YouTuber Manish Kashyap says, "...We came from Bihar with Manoj Tiwari, yesterday. I could be released from jail only due to them and the bad days of my life ended. So, I joined the BJP. We have to strengthen Bihar. Lalu family looted and… pic.twitter.com/1AHSz74THk

— ANI (@ANI) April 25, 2024

Who is Manish Kashyap?

Manish Kashyap, a resident of West Champaran in Bihar, gained popularity by raising issues plaguing the state and inaction of the Bihar government and administration in his Youtube videos. He frequently raised issues of poor quality of education in government schools in the state, and poor quality of infrastructure work.

Kashyap was accused of making fake statements regarding harassment of Bihar labourers in the state of Tamil Nadu in his videos, after which Tamil Nadu Police and the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar filed cases against him. Following this, the Tamil Nadu police took his custody and he was lodged in Madurai jail for four months.

Later he was brought back to Bihar where he spent months in Patna's Beur jail before being released.