Lok Sabha Elections 2024: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expelled Bhojpuri singer Pawan Singh for contesting Lok Sabha Elections 2024 in Bihar against NDA's official candidate. Actor-turned-politician Pawan had earlier announced his decision to contest from Karakat Lok Sabha constituency as an Independent candidate.
Former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha, who heads the Rashtriya Lok Morcha, is the NDA nominee from the south Bihar seat. Singh threw his hat in the ring in the Karakat constituency after turning down a BJP ticket from Asansol in West Bengal.
“Pawan Singh has been suspended with immediate effect from the BJP for contesting as an independent candidate from the Karakat Lok Sabha seat in Bihar against the party’s decision. This act is considered anti-party. The decision to suspend Singh has been taken by Bihar BJP president Samrat Chaudhary,” the party said in a statement.
Bihar Deputy CM and state BJP president Samrat Choudhary said, "It's obvious if someone contests election against the party, such actions are taken at the party's level."
What Pawan Singh said prior about his candidature from Karakat?
Bhojpuri star Pawan Singh last week said that he will not withdraw his candidature from Bihar's Karakat Lok Sabha seat at any cost. The actor-turned-politician made the remarks after senior BJP leader and Bihar minister Prem Kumar said that Singh should withdraw his nomination otherwise the party will take action against him.
Pawan Singh said, "I will not withdraw my nomination as there is no point in returning from here. I am an artist, not a criminal against whom the BJP will take action against me. This is India and everyone here has the right to live a free life. No matter what anyone says, Pawan Singh will contest elections from Karakat at any cost."
Singh is contesting as an independent candidate from the Karakat parliamentary constituency. His mother Pratima Singh has also filed the nomination paper from the same seat as an independent candidate.
About his mother's nomination from the same seat, the actor-politician said it is just part of a strategy. "I will contest the Lok Sabha election and will win because the people of Karakat have made up their mind," he said.
The presence of Pawan Singh has made the Karakat contest triangular. The NDA has fielded Upendra Kushwaha from the Karakat seat while Mahagathbandhan has nominated CPI-ML's Rajaram Singh Kushwaha.
The BJP had given the ticket to Pawan Singh to contest from Asansol in West Bengal but he refused. Later, the Bhojpuri star filed his nomination from Karakat on May 9. The polling in Karakat will be held in the seventh phase on June 1 (Saturday).
Pratima Devi withdraws candidature
Pawan Singh's mother Pratima Devi withdrew her candidature from Bihar's Karakat Lok Sabha seat on Friday (May 17), even as her son remains in the fray despite alleged pressure from the BJP to pull out.
Rashtriya Lok Morcha head and former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha is contesting as the NDA candidate from the south Bihar seat, where Singh decided to contest after declining a BJP ticket from Asansol in West Bengal.
The Election Commission confirmed Pratima Devi's withdrawal, who had filed her nomination as an independent candidate on May 14. Speculations were rife that her entry into the race was at the behest of her son, who feared rejection of his own nomination.
Friday was the final day for withdrawal of nominations from the Karakat seat, scheduled for polls on June 1.
ALSO READ: Pawan Singh's mother files nomination from Karakat Lok Sabha seat, sparks confusion
ALSO READ: Pawan Singh, Bhojpuri star, to contest Lok Sabha polls from Bihar's Karakat against Upendra Kushwaha
