NEW DELHI: Eyebrows were raised after Delhi’s popular Luv Kush Ramleela Committee cast model-actress Poonam Pandey as ‘Mandodari’, Ravana’s wife, prompting BJP and VHP to demand her replacement.After the controversy went viral on social media, it has now entered the political arena. Delhi BJP media cell head Praveen Shankar Kapoor, who also serves as senior vice-president of the Luv Kush Ramleela Committee, wrote to the organisers on Saturday, requesting that Poonam Pandey be replaced.Earlier, Prant Surendra Gupta, secretary of the Vishva Hindu Parishad’s (VHP) Delhi chapter, had objected to Pandey portraying Mandodari in the Ramleela, which is scheduled to begin on September 22.Kapoor noted in his letter that the Luv Kush Ramleela is widely known in Delhi and across the country for its innovative presentation, attracting large crowds, especially youth. He urged the organisers to distance the event from Pandey.“Pandey has not only been off the screen for years but is also known for controversies over her photos and videos on social media,” the BJP leader said.Arjun Kumar, president of the Luv Kush Ramleela Committee, told PTI that Poonam Pandey’s role is scheduled for September 29-30, and the organisers remain open to discussions on the matter.“We don’t see anything wrong with a woman playing a character which represents goodness in the Ramleela. Everyone deserves a chance,” Kumar said.He added that more than 500 performers will take part in the act, with Pandey being just one of them.