Prominent Bhojpuri actor and singer Pawan Singh declared on Saturday that he would not be participating in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. He emphasized his commitment to serving as a loyal member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Singh conveyed his decision via a social media post, which included a photograph alongside Union Home Minister Amit Shah. In his message, he clarified, “I, Pawan Singh, wish to inform my Bhojpuri community that my affiliation with the party was not for the purpose of contesting the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections, nor do I have any such intention. I am, and will remain, a dedicated soldier of the party.”
This announcement came just a day after his wife, Jyoti Singh, was seen meeting with Jan Suraaj party founder Prashant Kishor, sparking considerable speculation about her potential entry into politics.
Singh previously ran unsuccessfully as an independent candidate in the 2024 Lok Sabha election from the Karakat constituency. That seat was ultimately secured by Raja Ram Kushwaha of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation. Prior to his recent declaration, there had been rumors that Singh might contest one of the Bhojpur district seats, either Ara or Barhara, in the upcoming Assembly elections.
Following her meeting with Jyoti Singh, Prashant Kishor informed the media that while the meeting did occur, it was not related to her contesting the Assembly election.
In recent months, Jyoti Singh has sought support from various political figures amidst a growing marital dispute with Pawan Singh. The conflict became public knowledge on October 5 when she visited his Lucknow residence and subsequently claimed on social media that she was being forcibly removed by police summoned by the actor-singer.
On October 6, Pawan Singh posted on Facebook to deny these allegations. He wrote, “I hold one truth above all else in my life: the public is my God. Would I ever intentionally harm the feelings of those who have helped me reach this position?”
Addressing his wife directly, he added, “Jyoti Singh Ji, isn’t it true that when you arrived at my society, I respectfully invited you into my home, and we conversed for approximately 1.5 hours? You repeatedly stated your desire to contest the assembly election, no matter the circumstances. This request, however, was beyond my control.”
Singh further clarified, “Misinformation was spread in the community suggesting I called the police. The truth is, the police were present since morning to ensure that any interactions occurred in their presence and that no unfortunate incidents transpired, whether involving those accompanying you or anyone else.”
On October 8, Jyoti Singh made serious accusations against Pawan Singh, alleging that he had administered abortion pills to her and subjected her to abuse. The following day, he refuted these charges, labeling them as politically motivated and pointing out that their legal case has been ongoing in court for four years.
When questioned about Singh’s decision to withdraw from the Assembly elections, Kishor stated it had no connection to him. He remarked, “Pawan Singh is my friend, regardless of his political standing. I have no involvement in Pawan Singh’s personal family matters. I met his wife yesterday, but it was not for political reasons. Why would Pawan Singh be afraid of me? I harbor no animosity towards him; I consider him a friend.”
Singh had been expelled from the BJP before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, but his independent candidacy in Karakat indirectly led to the defeat of Upendra Kushwaha, the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) leader and an NDA ally.
On September 30, Singh met Kushwaha at his Delhi residence, where a photograph showing him touching the RLM leader’s feet quickly spread across social media, with fans interpreting it as a gesture of ‘surrender’. Later the same day, Singh met with BJP president J.P. Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah, formally rejoining the party.