Bhojpuri actor Pawan Singh has stirred up political activity before the Bihar assembly elections by meeting with Upendra Kushwaha and Amit Shah. He has once again made his return to the BJP. The NDA alliance, which suffered a setback in the Lok Sabha elections in the Magadh and Shahabad regions of the state, hopes for electoral gains from the actor’s re-entry. The question then arises whether this move by the NDA will provide an answer to the rebellion of former Union Minister RK Singh or a strike against the corruption of Prashant Kishor.
Pawan Singh’s political comeback has heated up the electoral atmosphere in Bihar. On Tuesday (September 30), the Bhojpuri star, along with Bihar BJP in-charge Vinod Tawde, reached the residence of Upendra Kushwaha, the president of the Bihar Lok Morcha. During this time, he bowed down and touched Kushwaha’s feet and also embraced him. The meeting has raised the temperature of the state’s politics.
Upendra Kushwaha was opposing the return of Pawan Singh to the BJP and NDA because in the last Lok Sabha elections, Upendra Kushwaha lost the election from Arrah, and Pawan Singh’s independent contest was considered the reason for this. Kushwaha and the Rajput caste had come face-to-face. Kushwaha lost because Rajput voters went with Pawan Singh. In such a situation, Kushwaha did not want Pawan Singh to return. However, the way the two met today and embraced each other, it is clear that Kushwaha has forgotten the grief of defeat and now both will work together.
On the other hand, the BJP has also become alert regarding Pawan Singh because a few days ago, Pawan Singh met former Union Minister RK Singh. The same RK Singh who increased the difficulties of the BJP with his rebellious stance. His rebellion and the internal fighting going on within the party had created uncertainty in the Arrah seat of Bihar. In such a situation, it is believed that with the re-entry of Pawan Singh in the BJP, the party has not only found an alternative to RK Singh but has also worked to make inroads into the Rajput vote bank. That is, it can be said that RK Singh’s rebellion also played an important role in Pawan Singh’s re-entry into the BJP.
After meeting and receiving blessings from Upendra Kushwaha, the president of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha, Pawan Singh also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda today. These consecutive meetings have clearly indicated that Pawan Singh is going to start his second innings.
It is believed that this move by the BJP can directly affect 24 to 25 seats in Shahabad and Dehri-on-Sone. The social equations in this area, comprising Arrah, Buxar, Rohtas, and Kaimur, are very complex. In the 2020 assembly elections, the BJP won 11, the RJD 10, and the Congress 4 seats out of the 25 seats here. The party believes that Pawan Singh’s star power can increase the votes by 3-4%, which will be enough to decide the outcome.
On the other hand, the crisis deepened on the Arrah seat due to RK Singh’s rebellious attitude. Pawan Singh also comes from the Rajput community, so his return is being considered by the BJP not only as an answer to the rebellion but also as a strategy to woo the Rajput vote bank. However, the opposition sees this re-entry as a conspiracy against Upendra Kushwaha.
Overall, Pawan Singh’s re-entry into the NDA has given a new turn to the politics of the Bihar elections. Now the big question is whether the Bhojpuri star’s magic will turn into votes and whether he will play an important role in strengthening the NDA’s fort in the weak link Shahabad and Magadh of the BJP and NDA.
