Pawan Singh emerged as a big challenge for the NDA candidate in Karakat.

Patna, May 17, 2024: Bhojpuri Power Star Pawan Singh has emerged as a major challenger for the NDA on the Karakat Lok Sabha seat, after the Election Commission validated his nomination papers. Despite mounting pressure from senior BJP leaders, Singh has made it clear that he will not withdraw his candidature.

BJP leaders warned Pawan Singh to initiate disciplinary action:

BJP leaders, including Prem Kumar and R. K. Singh, have publicly urged him to step aside, warning that the party may take disciplinary action if he refuses.

“If he does not withdraw, the party will expel him,” Prem Kumar said.

Although Pawan Kumar is a BJP member, he is contesting as an independent candidate from Karakat. Earlier this week, his filed her nomination as an independent candidate from the same constituency, but Pawan later clarified that he would lead the campaign himself.

Pawan Singh has a huge fan following in Karakat:

Singh’s growing popularity—particularly among youths and women voters—has turned the Karakat contest into a three-way fight. His entry poses a potential setback to Upendra Kushwaha, the NDA-backed Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) candidate, who is facing Rajaram Singh Kushwaha of the CPI-ML, the Grand Alliance nominee.

Karakat has a complex caste arithmetic, roughly 3 lakh Yadav, 3.5 lakh Kushwaha, 2 lakh Rajput, 2 lakh Gupta, along with substantial numbers of Bhumihar, Dalit, Mahadalit, and Kurmi voters.

Analysts say Singh’s upper-caste appeal and star status could dent Upendra Kushwaha’s vote base, traditionally backed by the BJP.

The Karakat seat was created in 2008 after delimitation, comprising Karakat, Dehri, and Nokha (Rohtas district) and Nabinagar, Obra, and Goh (Aurangabad district). In 2014, Upendra Kushwaha won here as an NDA candidate but lost in 2019 as part of the Grand Alliance, when JD(U)’s Mahabali Singh defeated him.

Interestingly, the BJP had initially fielded Pawan Singh from Asansol, West Bengal, but he declined the offer and instead filed his nomination from Karakat on May 9, 2024.

With Pawan Singh’s surprise entry, the Karakat Lok Sabha seat—once seen as a straightforward NDA vs Grand Alliance contest—has now become one of the most closely watched and unpredictable battles in Bihar.

Also Read: A fan of Pawan Singh broke his car’s windshield in Karakat.

EOM