Patna: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated Bhojpuri singer and actor Pawan Singh for the Bihar Legislative Council, fielding the popular entertainer as one of its four candidates for the biennial elections to the Upper House.
Pawan Singh’s name heads the BJP’s list of nominees for the elections to nine Legislative Council seats. The party has also fielded sitting MLC Sanjay Mayukh, state vice-president Anil Thakur and former state vice-president Sheila Prajapati.
The announcement comes as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) finalises its candidates for the Legislative Council elections, where the coalition is widely expected to secure a comfortable majority.
BJP’s Four Candidates
Among the BJP nominees, Sanjay Mayukh has been renominated for another term in the Legislative Council.
Anil Thakur currently serves as a state vice-president in the party organisation, while Sheila Prajapati previously held the position of state vice-president under the BJP’s Bihar leadership.
However, the inclusion of Pawan Singh has generated the most attention, given his celebrity status and turbulent political career.
Popularly known as the “Power Star” of Bhojpuri cinema, Singh is among the most recognisable faces in the regional entertainment industry.
NDA Finalises Seat-Sharing Formula
Under the NDA’s seat-sharing arrangement, the BJP is contesting four of the nine seats falling vacant in the biennial elections.
Janata Dal (United) has fielded candidates for three seats, while one seat each has been allocated to the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha.
In the by-election for the seat vacated by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, JD(U) has nominated Lalan Prasad of Sheikhpura.
The ruling alliance currently enjoys the support of 202 MLAs in the Bihar Assembly, giving it a strong numerical advantage in the contest for the ten Legislative Council seats, including the by-election.
A Return To The BJP Fold
Pawan Singh’s nomination marks another chapter in a political journey marked by both popularity and controversy.
The singer-actor was originally named as the BJP’s candidate for the Asansol Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal ahead of the 2024 parliamentary elections. However, he declined to contest and later entered the race as an independent candidate from Bihar’s Karakat constituency.
His decision complicated the NDA’s electoral calculations in the region. In Karakat, both Pawan Singh and NDA-backed candidate Upendra Kushwaha lost to CPI(ML)’s Rajaram Kushwaha.
Political observers viewed the result as a setback for the NDA in parts of the Shahabad and Magadh regions.
Following the election, Pawan Singh gradually returned to the BJP fold and reconciled with Kushwaha. He subsequently campaigned extensively for NDA candidates during later elections, and party insiders view his nomination as recognition of those efforts.
Career Frequently Shadowed By Controversy
Despite his popularity, Singh’s public life has often been marked by controversy.
Several of his Bhojpuri songs have attracted criticism over allegations of obscenity, while aspects of his personal life have frequently drawn media attention.
His marital disputes have remained a subject of public discussion. Divorce proceedings with his second wife, Jyoti Singh, are ongoing, and she has publicly sought substantial alimony in the case.
His first wife, Neelam Singh, died shortly after their marriage in 2014, a tragedy that received significant public attention.
His past association with Bhojpuri actor Akshara Singh also generated headlines and public disputes, while recent speculation regarding his personal life has continued to attract media scrutiny.
From Cinema To Legislature
The BJP’s decision to nominate Pawan Singh reflects the growing role of celebrity figures in Bihar’s political landscape, where actors and entertainers increasingly command significant influence among voters.
If elected, Singh will join the Bihar Legislative Council at a time when the NDA is seeking to consolidate its social and political support base ahead of future electoral contests.
