After recently stating that he wouldn't run for Lok Sabha elections from Asansol with BJP, Bhojpuri singer and actor Pawan Singh revealed his plan to enter the political arena as an independent candidate from the Karakat parliamentary constituency in Bihar. Singh, expressing his motivation, emphasized his promise to his mother, stating, "'Mata Gurutara Bhumeru' means mother is mightier than this land, and I had promised my mother that I would contest the elections this time." Asserting his decision, Singh confirmed, "I have decided that I will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Karakat, Bihar."
In Karakat, Singh will face off against Rajaram Singh of CPI(ML) Liberation, a member of the RJD-led grand alliance in Bihar. The alliance comprises the Rashtriya Janata Dal contesting 23 Lok Sabha seats, Congress fielding candidates from nine constituencies, the Left contesting on five seats, and Mukesh Sahni's Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) on three.
Previously, the BJP had nominated Pawan Singh for Asansol, but he withdrew his candidacy a day later. While Singh did not specify the reason for his withdrawal, his nomination faced criticism from the TMC. The TMC alleged that some of his songs were crude and depicted women, including those from Bengal, in a vulgar manner. However, Singh later reversed his decision, citing his commitment to his mother's wish. He expressed his determination to participate in the Lok Sabha polls, stating, "I will fight the elections to fulfill the promise I made to my mother, my society, and the people."
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party replaced Pawan Singh with BJP MP SS Ahluwalia for the Asansol constituency. Ahluwalia will go head-to-head against TMC's heavyweight candidate and the party's star face, Shatrughan Sinha, in Asansol, an industrial hub known for its coal belt.
