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The election show on India's state-owned national TV channel, Doordarshan, was being pre-recorded in a park on Monday in Sultanpur, a town about 160 kilometres from the city of Lucknow.
A man, named by police as Durgesh Kumar Singh, emerged from a crowd of about 150 onlookers, doused himself in petrol and then grabbed the local leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party, Kamruzzama Fauji.
Mr Singh sustained burns to 95 per cent of his body, and local media is reporting he has died in hospital.
Doctors say Mr Fauji is in a critical condition with burns to 75 per cent of his body.
"This man suddenly came on the stage, poured petrol on himself and set himself on fire before tightly hugging one of the political guests," local photographer Pankaj Kumar Gupta said.
"People were just too shocked to know what was happening," said Gupta, whose photos show the men engulfed in flames with spectators fleeing the scene.
Two other local politicians taking part in the show, Ram Kumar Singh and Chowdhary Hriday Ram Verma, sustained minor burns while trying to save the pair.
"The injured were first admitted to the district hospital here [in Sultanpur] and were then referred to Lucknow," a police statement said.
The motive for the incident is unknown.
D N Moghe, deputy director general for Doordarshan's state headquarter in Lucknow, described it as a "shocking" incident.
"This is a sad and shocking event during our road show debate whose program format is similar to other news channels during this election season," he said.
"The reason why the man set himself on fire is being investigated by the authorities."
India's numerous television channels are holding nightly debate shows during the parliamentary elections.
The shows are often staged in villages and towns with politicians taking questions in front of local voters.
The election, the world's biggest democratic vote, runs until May 12, with results expected on May 16.
The Hindu nationalist opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to come to power after 10 years of rule by the leftist Congress party.
Pankaj Gupta said the show on Monday was called Janmanch 2014 (People's Forum 2014) and featured five local politicians.
It was coming to an end when the man suddenly appeared.
"Within minutes, the Doordarshan team closed its cameras and packed all their equipment and fled the scene," Mr Gupta said.
Man sets himself on fire, hugs Indian politician during television debate - Australia Network News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
A man, named by police as Durgesh Kumar Singh, emerged from a crowd of about 150 onlookers, doused himself in petrol and then grabbed the local leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party, Kamruzzama Fauji.
Mr Singh sustained burns to 95 per cent of his body, and local media is reporting he has died in hospital.
Doctors say Mr Fauji is in a critical condition with burns to 75 per cent of his body.
"This man suddenly came on the stage, poured petrol on himself and set himself on fire before tightly hugging one of the political guests," local photographer Pankaj Kumar Gupta said.
"People were just too shocked to know what was happening," said Gupta, whose photos show the men engulfed in flames with spectators fleeing the scene.
Two other local politicians taking part in the show, Ram Kumar Singh and Chowdhary Hriday Ram Verma, sustained minor burns while trying to save the pair.
"The injured were first admitted to the district hospital here [in Sultanpur] and were then referred to Lucknow," a police statement said.
The motive for the incident is unknown.
D N Moghe, deputy director general for Doordarshan's state headquarter in Lucknow, described it as a "shocking" incident.
"This is a sad and shocking event during our road show debate whose program format is similar to other news channels during this election season," he said.
"The reason why the man set himself on fire is being investigated by the authorities."
India's numerous television channels are holding nightly debate shows during the parliamentary elections.
The shows are often staged in villages and towns with politicians taking questions in front of local voters.
The election, the world's biggest democratic vote, runs until May 12, with results expected on May 16.
The Hindu nationalist opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to come to power after 10 years of rule by the leftist Congress party.
Pankaj Gupta said the show on Monday was called Janmanch 2014 (People's Forum 2014) and featured five local politicians.
It was coming to an end when the man suddenly appeared.
"Within minutes, the Doordarshan team closed its cameras and packed all their equipment and fled the scene," Mr Gupta said.
Man sets himself on fire, hugs Indian politician during television debate - Australia Network News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
