The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has expelled Bhojpuri superstar Pawan Singh for contesting the Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate, a move that party officials say has "tarnished the party's image."
Singh's decision to enter the fray independently from the Karakat seat in Bihar has created ripples within the party, particularly as it challenges the candidacy of Upendra Kushwaha, a former Union minister and an ally within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
"Pawan Singh, a member of the BJP’s district executive committee in Bhojpur, was officially expelled on Wednesday," a BJP statement affirmed.
This decision came following directives from the state BJP president, Samrat Choudhary, as communicated by Arvind Sharma, the head of the party’s Bihar headquarters.
Singh has been charged with "anti-party activities" and "indiscipline," and for "tarnishing the party's reputation" by running against the NDA's authorised candidate.
Despite repeated attempts, Singh could not be reached for comments on his expulsion.
The party's decision comes just over a week before the Karakat constituency goes to the polls on June 1.
The timing of Singh’s expulsion is notable as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to hold rallies in Bihar on May 25, one of which is planned in Karakat.
Singh’s independent candidacy complicates the race for Upendra Kushwaha, who is contesting under the Rashtriya Lok Morcha symbol, an NDA partner.
Singh’s entry is seen as a potential disruption, especially since he had earlier turned down a BJP ticket from Asansol in West Bengal. The Asansol ticket had been offered after a controversy erupted over some of Singh’s songs, which were criticized for being misogynistic and derogatory towards Bengalis.
The actor-singer, who has been with the BJP for several years, was reportedly lobbying for a ticket from Ara, his home district’s headquarters in Bhojpur.
However, the party decided to retain RK Singh, the sitting Union minister, for a third consecutive term, leading Pawan Singh to contest from the neighboring Karakat seat.
There is speculation that Singh’s move may have the backing of a faction within the BJP that is wary of the party’s reliance on leaders like Kushwaha, fearing it might weaken the party’s outreach among Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
In a recent interaction with media persons, Kushwaha hinted that Singh might have been propped up by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the main opposition party in Bihar.
However, RJD sources dismissed these claims, stating they are supporting Raja Ram of the CPI(ML) Liberation, and suggesting that Singh’s candidacy might divide the BJP’s Rajput vote base, inadvertently benefiting the INDIA bloc.
Singh’s campaign has drawn large crowds and considerable attention, with significant turnouts at his public meetings.
Initially, it appeared he might withdraw from the contest, particularly as his mother, Pratima Devi, also filed as an independent candidate.
This led to speculation that Singh might retreat under BJP pressure, leaving his mother to continue as a proxy candidate.
However, Pratima Devi quietly withdrew her nomination, solidifying Singh's position in the race.
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