The Bihar Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has expelled Bhojpuri singer-cum-politician Pawan Singh. Singh sought to run for the Lok Sabha elections of 2024 as an independent candidate irrespective of the contrary official NDA person for the same position in Karakat. It was after he had shown interest in running for Karakat constituency as an independent nominee that legal steps were taken against him.
Although Singh’s affiliation with the BJP initially wasn’t clear, it was made apparent when he decided to go for the election on his own which subsequently led him to be expelled from that party. This followed Singh’s attempt at getting an RJD ticket -a move towards going Independent.
Singh had pledged a new dawn for the constituency, emphasizing his commitment to development in Karakat, in a social media post. But BJP leaders amongst whom sought re-election from the neighbouring Arrah Lok Sabha seat, including Union Minister RK Singh, criticized his decision to run up against the NDA candidate, Upendra Kushwaha.
Pawan Singh’s mother, Pratima Devi, originally ran for Karakat seat as an independent candidate, but she later dropped out of the election. It has been speculated that she only entered to run because her son wanted to be there after his candidacy was rejected.
The Election Commission of India confirmed Pratima Devi’s withdrawal, marking the culmination of the nomination process for the Karakat seat, scheduled for polls on June 1. Singh’s decision to contest independently and his subsequent expulsion from the BJP underscore the tensions within the party regarding candidate selection and party discipline.
The ejection of Pawan Singh informs on Bharatiya Janata Party’s side on party loyalty and discipline amid momentous electioneering spells. Karakat’s independence candidature by Singh portrays varying dynamics within politics where sometimes personal aspirations seem to clash with party dictates and partnerships.
