BJP's Pawan Singh Confirms He Is Still In Race To Lok Sabha Against TMC's Shatrughan Sinha From Asansol

Bhojpuri superstar Pawan Singh has decided to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Taking to social media platform X, Pawan Singh made the announcement on Wednesday. Seeking the "blessings" of voters, Pawan Singh wrote, "I will contest elections to fulfil the promise made to my community, the public, and mother."

मैंअपने समाज जनता जनार्दन और माँ से किया हुआ वादा पूरा करने के लिए चुनाव लडूँगा
आप सभी का आशीर्वाद एवं सहयोग अपेक्षित है
जय माता दी

— Pawan Singh (@PawanSingh909) March 13, 2024

Earlier on March 2, the BJP announced its decision to give a ticket to Pawan Singh. The party had made him its candidate from the Asansol seat in West Bengal. However, after the announcement was made, Singh and the BJP faced major backlash on social media over the "content of his films". The ruling Trinamool Congress alleged that many of Pawan Singh's songs are "indecent and objectify women", including the women of the state. If Pawan Singh gets the ticket, BJP's stand on atrocities against women in the state would also weaken, the TMC alleged. Following the opposition, Singh withdrew his candidature.

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The opposition to Singh's candidature came at a time when the BJP was fighting tooth and nail for "justice" to the victims of Sandeshkhali atrocities allegedly committed by now-suspended TMC leader Sheikh Shah Jahan and his aides.

Singh also met BJP President JP Nadda and the next day (March 3) the Bhojpuri singer and actor, "I express my heartfelt gratitude to the top leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The party trusted me and declared me as the candidate from Asansol but due to some reason, I will not be able to contest from Asansol."

However, with Wednesday's clarification, Bihar-born Pawan Singh will be going up against another actor from his state and incumbent Asansol MP Shatrughan Sinha, who has been fielded by the TMC.

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Pawan Singh No Stranger To Controversies

Pawan Singh shot to fame outside the Bhijpuri industry with his 2008 number Lollipop Laagelu. However, many of his albums with titles like Bangal Sei Liyayem Sautaniya, Bangal Wali Maal, Kalkatiya Raja, and Bangal Ke Paani were deemed to be offensive by many due to the racy lyrics of the songs. But the songs elevated him to be among the highest-paid stars in the Bhojpuri entertainment industry, reported Hindustan Times.

According to the news website, Pawan Singh in 2018 faced a police complaint lodged by his co-star in many films Akshara Singh, with whom he was in a relationship. He, however, married a different woman. This was his second marriage. His first wife Neelam had committed suicide within a few months of the marriage in 2015. Akshara had filed a defamation complaint against the actor.

Pawan's second marriage too ran into trouble in 2021 after his wife accused him of torture, reported HT. However, the couple were able to reconcile.