The political landscape in Bihar is charged as parties strategize for the upcoming assembly elections. Amidst the usual accusations, significant moves are being made to secure victory. Bhojpuri singer-actor Pawan Singh recently visited Delhi, where he met with RLSP president Upendra Kushwaha. Singh sought blessings from Kushwaha, potentially paving the way for his return to the BJP. Singh contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the Karakat seat, an election which he and Kushwaha lost. Kushwaha had previously opposed Singh’s return to the NDA, but their recent meeting suggests a reconciliation.
Following this, Singh met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi for about 30 minutes. Singh presented a gamcha to Shah. Subsequently, he met with BJP National President J.P. Nadda.
The increased demand for Pawan Singh stems from his considerable popularity among the youth. In the last Lok Sabha elections, he demonstrated his appeal by securing a substantial number of votes as an independent candidate. Singh contributed to the defeat of NDA candidate Upendra Kushwaha. Poor performance by the NDA in the Shahabad region during the Lok Sabha elections saw tensions between supporters of Singh and Kushwaha. This explains efforts to resolve these issues before the assembly elections.
Singh’s re-entry could offer the NDA an advantage in the Bihar assembly elections, particularly in the Magadh and Shahabad regions. This could affect 24 to 25 seats, with the BJP having won 11 out of 25 seats in the 2020 assembly elections. The BJP anticipates a 3 to 4 percent increase in votes due to Singh’s star power. Singh’s Rajput background could also help garner Rajput votes.
There is speculation that Singh might contest the assembly elections from Ara, which could directly benefit the BJP and NDA. He could influence around two dozen seats in areas like Bhojpur, Buxar, Rohtas, and Kaimur. As a Bhojpuri superstar, he could attract young voters.
Singh’s return has shifted the dynamics of Bihar’s electoral politics, while the opposition views this as a plot against Upendra Kushwaha.
Following Singh’s Delhi meetings, Bihar’s political scene intensified. Criticism emerged from other political figures. RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav criticized Singh, referring to a past incident. Yadav expressed his belief that Singh’s judgment is impaired.
In related news, the Election Commission has released the final voter list for Bihar. The final list indicates an increase in voters, with a total of 72.4 million voters. The final list includes 2.1 million new voters. There was a removal of 6.5 million names from the draft list released on August 1. The Election Commission has uploaded the final voter list on its website. Voters can check their names on the website and also have the opportunity to add names to the list, with a deadline ten days before the last date of nomination.