Dehradun: Inclusion of rape-accused former BJP leader Sanjay Kumar in the list of Uttarakhand leaders deputed to campaign in the Haryana assembly elections created a stir after a list bearing his name was circulated on social media.

In 2018, following rape charges, Kumar, the former general secretary of the state unit of the BJP, had to unceremoniously quit the party. He has not been in the public domain ever since even as the complainant has been approaching various forums — from the Supreme Court to the PMO — demanding justice.

However, as per sources, Kumar who is from a RSS background, still has considerable clout in the party. On Tuesday night, when the list of BJP campaigners for the Haryana assembly polls was released, it had Kumar’s name along with his mobile phone number, fuelling speculations of his comeback in the saffron camp.

Soon after the matter became viral on social media, Kumar late on Wednesday wrote on Facebook that he has nothing to do with the Haryana assembly elections.

BJP spokesperson Devendra Bhasin, when queried, said, “In my list, his name does not figure and I don’t know from where this list was leaked on social media.”

BJP sources said that Kumar originally belongs to the RSS and at present has no role in the BJP. “Kumar is no more with the party and it would be up to the RSS to give him any assignment or not to give any responsibility,” a senior BJP leader said on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, reacting on the development, the rape survivor, said, “After coming to know about Kumar becoming election coordinator, I wrote to BJP national president Amit Shah who is also the Union home minister to take action against him or ask the BJP to stop talking about Beti Bachao Beti Padhao slogan.”

