NDA sees wins in Bihar as Pawan Singh and the BJP strike the same tone once more

In less than a year, Bhojpuri singer-actor Pawan Singh’s political journey has come full circle, from his expulsion from the BJP ahead of the 2024 lok Sabha elections for “indiscipline and anti-party activities” to his reunion with the party leadership.

Singh, who is viewed as both a hindrance and a boost for the NDA ahead of the Bihar Assembly polls, met with BJP president J P Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Tuesday. Rashtriya Lok Manch (RLM) leader Upendra Kushwaha and BJP Bihar in-charge Vinod Tawde were also in attendance. Singh had run as an Independent for the Karakat Lok Sabha seat after turning down a BJP ticket from Asansol.

“Pawanji is in the BJP and will remain in the BJP. Kushwahaji has given his blessings… Pawanji will actively work for the NDA as a BJP karyakarta in the upcoming elections,” Tawde told reporters after the meeting of the once-bitter rivals.

Singh talked of a “developed Bihar” when posting images from his meetings on X. “Those who support casteist politics must be feeling extremely uncomfortable after seeing these pictures today. However, how long can those whose hearts harbor the desire for a developed Bihar remain apart? … In building the Bihar of (Prime Minister) Narendra Modiji and (Chief Minister) Nitishji’s dreams, your son Pawan will put in full power,” he said in a post.

जातिवादी राजनीति के पोषकों के दिल पे आज ई फोटो देख के साँप लोट रहा होगा। लेकिन जिनके दिल में विकसित बिहार का सपना बसता है, वो कब तक एक दूसरे से दूर रह सकते है। आज हमारे माननीय गृह मंत्री @AmitShah जी और हमारे राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष @JPNadda जी माननीय @UpendraKushRLM जी से मुलाक़ात हुई… pic.twitter.com/DyoqUe8VKw

— Pawan Singh (@PawanSingh909) September 30, 2025

According to party insiders, now that Singh’s return is all but official, focus is turning to his position inside the company and the potential impact he could have in Bihar. It is obvious that the NDA intends to improve its standing in Bihar by taking advantage of Singh’s popularity. He may or may not be fielded, but his presence counterbalances the goals of the Lok Janshakti Party, commanded by Chirag Paswan (Ram Vilas), according to a source.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Singh was one of the BJP’s celebrity candidates. He was scheduled to run against Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate Shatrughan Sinha in Asansol, but he withdrew for “personal reasons” after receiving criticism for his public persona, specifically for alleged misogyny in his songs and movies.

According to reports, Pawan Singh requested a move to a seat close to Arrah, where he has a sizable following, but the request was made too late. According to an insider, he could now try his luck in the region’s Vidhan Sabha elections.

In his electoral debut, Singh polled over 2.74 lakh votes in Karakat, more than Kushwaha’s 2.53 lakh, though the seat was won by the CPI (M-L) L’s Raja Ram Singh.