The BJP has expelled Bhojpuri actor-turned-politician Pawan Singh for contesting as an independent candidate from the Karakat Lok Sabha seat of Bihar against National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate Upendra Kushwaha. Singh filed his nomination on May 9, ending weeks of speculation around his candidature from Karakat
In a letter to Pawan Singh, the BJP said his decision was "anti-party", and also tarnished the image of the party while being against its principles.
Karakat will head to the polls on June 1, the seventh and last phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
Besides Kushwaha, a former Union Minister and chief of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha, the Mahagathbandhan’s Rajaram Singh and AIMIM’s Priyanka Chaudhary are in the fray from the south Bihar seat.
Reacting to the BJP's decision to expel the actor-politician, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav told reporters that this was a "conspiracy to defeat Upendra Kushwaha. Internally, the BJP is helping Pawan Singh".
On his part, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary said, "If someone contests elections against the party, then naturally the party takes action."
Pawan Singh's decision to contest against Kushwaha drew criticism from some BJP leaders, including Union Minister RK Singh, who is seeking re-election from the neighbouring Arrah Lok Sabha seat.
