BJP expels singer-politician Pawan Singh for contesting against NDA candidate
What's the story
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has expelled Bhojpuri singer and politician Pawan Singh for deciding to contest the Lok Sabha elections independently from the Karakat seat in Bihar.
Singh announced his candidacy for the Karakat seat after withdrawing from the Asansol electoral race in March over songs that made "lewd and uncivilized remarks about Bengali women."
Former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha is contesting as the National Democratic Alliance candidate from the south Bihar constituency.
Letter
This act of yours is against the party: BJP
"You are contesting the Lok Sabha elections against the official candidate of the NDA. This act of yours is against the party and has tarnished the party's image and violated party discipline," the BJP's Bihar unit said in a letter.
"The decision to suspend you has been taken by Bihar BJP president Samrat Chaudhary," the letter to Singh read.
Independent candidacy
Singh's independent run sparks controversy within BJP
Singh's independent candidacy was met with criticism from some BJP leaders, including Union Minister RK Singh who stated, "Either he should announce that he would not contest polls against the NDA nominee from Karakat or he should be suspended from the primary membership of the BJP."
"Upendra Kushwa is the NDA candidate, who is Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji's nominee," Singh said.
Candidature withdrawal
Singh's mother withdraws candidature
Prior to Singh's controversial candidacy, his mother, Pratima Devi, dropped her bid for the Karakat Lok Sabha seat.
The Election Commission of India (EDI) confirmed her withdrawal after she filed her nomination as an independent candidate on May 14.
Devi's decision led many to speculate that her entry into the contest was at the behest of her son, who was concerned about his own nomination being rejected.