Exit West Bengal, Enter Bihar: Bhojpuri star Pawan Singh back in Lok Sabha poll fray

Announcing his candidature on Wednesday, Singh posted on X, “Mother is heavier than this earth. I promised my mother that I would contest this election. I have decided to contest from Karakat.” In an earlier post, the singer had targeted TMC leader Babul Supriyo for “defaming” him using “forged pictures”.

“माता गुरुतरा भूमेरू” अर्थात माता इस भूमि से कहीं अधिक भारी होती हैं और मैंने अपनी माँ से वादा किया था की मैं इस बार चुनाव लड़ूँगा । मैंने निश्चय किया है कि मैं 2024 का लोकसभा चुनाव काराकाट,बिहार से लड़ूँगा ।
जय माता दी@ANI @aajtak @timesofindia @indiatvnews @ndtv @ABPNews…

— Pawan Singh (@PawanSingh909) April 10, 2024

Karakat is a Kushwaha-dominated constituency where leaders from the community have won the last three elections. The decision of Singh, an upper-caste Rajput, to contest from there has surprised many. The 38-year-old is said to have avoided entering the fray from Ara or Buxar to prevent damaging the prospects of fellow Rajput candidates Sudhakar Singh of the RJD in Buxar and R K Singh of the BJP in Ara. Three Assembly segments in the parliamentary constituency — Dehri, Nokkha, and Karakat — are Bhojpuri-speaking and Singh may be looking to make it work to his advantage given his immense popularity.

The actor-singer, popularly known as Pawan Star, will look to bank on the support of 1.25-lakh Rajput voters in Karakat. “He saw a direct clash between two OBC Kushwaha candidates, Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha and CPI(ML)’s Rajaram Singh, and narrowed down on Karakat to make his electoral debut. Though Kushwaha candidates have won the last three elections, Singh will look to turn it into a triangular contest by converting his popularity into votes,” said a person close to him.

A spokesperson of Kushwaha’s party, Rahul Kumar, told The Indian Express, “Had Pawan Singh come from some party, he could have offered some resistance. He will not be a factor before a national leader like Upendra Kushwaha. Everyone has the right to contest elections in a democracy.”

BJP spokesperson Manoj Sharma said, “Pawan Singh perhaps believes he may be reconsidered from Asansol. After we announced S S Ahluwalia’s candidature from there, Pawan took his decision.”

Pawan Singh started his music career as a harmonium player. His debut album “Odhaniya Wali” was released in 1997, followed by “Kaanch Kasailli” in 2005. He shot to fame with the song “Hilela Ara district” that gave him cult status among Bhojpuri music fans. His popular films include Pratigya, Satya, Sher Singh, and Raja.