Kolkata: Following a widespread backlash regarding the BJP’s nomination of Bhojpuri actor-singer Pawan Singh for the Asansol Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal, Singh on Sunday has announced that he will not be contesting the election.
Expressing gratitude to the BJP leadership for their trust in him and the nomination, Singh stated in a tweet in Hindi that he would be unable to participate in the election for unspecified reasons.
भारतीय जनता पार्टी के शीर्ष नेतृत्व को दिल से आभार प्रकट करता हु।
पार्टी ने मुझ पर विश्वास करके आसनसोल का उम्मीदवार घोषित किया लेकिन किसी कारण वश में आसनसोल से चुनाव नहीं लड़ पाऊंगा…@JPNadda— Pawan Singh (@PawanSingh909) March 3, 2024
The selection of 38-year-old Singh, hailing from Bihar, for the Bengal seat stirred considerable controversy, particularly due to his discography containing songs with objectionable references to Bengali women.
Also Read: Chairman of BJP’s think tank, party’s pick from heart of Kolkata — Meet Dr Anirban Ganguly
The backlash on social media did not go unnoticed, with sources indicating that the BJP foresaw potential harm to its prospects in Asansol due to Singh’s candidature. Consequently, a decision was made to withdraw his nomination, and Singh was duly informed. Subsequently, Singh confirmed his withdrawal via a tweet.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday released its first list of candidates for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. While it has retained several old timers, the BJP has introduced some fresh faces as well. The list also contains a few names that have been recognised for not just political reasons but for their contribution in other fields.
Currently, the Asansol Lok Sabha seat is held by Trinamool Congress’s Shatrughan Sinha, who won the seat in a 2022 bypoll after singer-politician Babul Supriyo, who secured victory for the BJP in the 2014 and 2019 general elections, switched to the Trinamool.
Also Read: Also Read: Who is ‘Nirbhaya Didi’ — BJP’s Lok Sabha pick from Bengal
