Patna: The Karakat assembly constituency in Rohtas has become one of the most closely watched battlegrounds of the Bihar assembly election, thanks to an unexpected entrant: Jyoti Singh, the spouse of Bhojpuri star Pawan Singh. Her decision to contest as an independent transformed what was expected to be a straight contest between the Janata Dal (United) candidate Mahabali Singh and the sitting CPIML MLA Arun Singh.
What began as a predictable duel has evolved into a volatile three-cornered contest, with early rounds of counting showing Jyoti Singh attracting enough support to influence the margins between the frontrunners.
A seat that turned ‘hot’ long before polling day
Debate around Karakat started months earlier when speculation mounted over whether Pawan Singh himself would enter the electoral arena—from Lucknow to Patna, his political ambition dominated front pages. His wife’s public dispute with him, including an incident at his Lucknow flat, only intensified the attention.
Pawan Singh eventually chose not to contest, though he expressed support for the BJP. Jyoti Singh, meanwhile, announced her own entry, sought space within opposition formations, and after failing to secure a ticket, chose to run as an independent—a move that dramatically altered the political mathematics.
Early rounds show her impact
With counting under way, the NDA appears to be leading statewide, and Karakat too has shown an edge for the alliance. After 21 rounds, Mahabali Singh has polled 71,089 votes, maintaining a narrow lead over CPIML’s Arun Singh, who has 73,793 votes—a margin of just 1,233.
Jyoti Singh stands in third place with 23,398 votes, but her presence has visibly tightened the margins between the two principal contenders.
From a modest upbringing to a public figure
Born in a modest household in Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh, Jyoti Singh’s rise to public prominence has been intertwined with her assertive social media presence and her high-profile marriage. With 1.9 million followers on Instagram, she frequently posts on political issues, women’s safety, family disputes and local development.
Her marriage to actor Pawan Singh—best known for the blockbuster track Lollipop Lagelu—was initially seen as a stabilising second innings for the actor, following the death of his first wife in 2015. But the relationship soon became turbulent, with Jyoti accusing him of domestic violence, emotional abuse and intimidation. Public disputes, legal battles and reconciliation attempts over the years kept the couple in the spotlight.
A political debut shaped by personal and public battles
The real suspense ahead of the 2025 polls lay in whether Jyoti would receive a ticket from a major party. Instead, she chose to step into the contest independently—an audacious move given the constituency’s deep-rooted political structures.
Her campaign centred on themes of dignity, women’s safety, local identity, and development. The message resonated among younger voters and many women, aided by her digital outreach and her portrayal of herself as “Karakat’s daughter, sister and daughter-in-law”.
