The well-known YouTuber, Manish Kashyap, recently announced his departure from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Shortly after this announcement, he met with Bhojpuri Power Star Pawan Singh. Now, it's almost certain that Manish Kashyap is set to join Jan Suraj.
Speculations are also rife that along with Manish Kashyap, Pawan Singh might soon join the ranks of Jan Suraj Party, led by the ace strategist turned politician Prashant Kishor, also known as PK. But what's the foundation of these rumors, and why is it said that Pawan Singh doesn't see any other option apart from PK's party?
Discussion existed even before Jan Suraj's official announcement
The buzz about Pawan Singh joining Jan Suraj grew after talk of Manish Kashyap's entry surfaced, yet its roots trace back before Jan Suraj was even a formal political entity. Approximately three months following last year's Lok Sabha elections, Pawan Singh’s wife, Jyoti Singh, met Prashant Kishor. A week after Jyoti's meeting, photos of Pawan Singh with former IPS officer Anand Mishra emerged.
Source: aajtak
Following Pawan Singh's meeting with Anand Mishra, there was speculation that his announcement as a member of Jan Suraj might come during the party's formal launch on October 2 at Gandhi Maidan. Anand Mishra, who took VRS to enter politics, was the president of the Jan Suraj Youth Wing but recently resigned. During Anand Mishra’s tenure as Youth President, Pawan Singh didn't join the party. With elections imminent, the discussions about his potential entry into Jan Suraj have intensified.
Why is PK's party seen as the only option for Pawan?
Pawan Singh has a significant fan base. By contesting independently in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and securing 274,723 votes, he demonstrated his influence. The Shahabad region, from which Pawan hails, is a focus for parties ranging from the BJP to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). So why is PK's party seen as the only viable option for Pawan? Let's break it down into four points.
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Are BJP’s doors shut for Pawan?
Pawan Singh was active in BJP for years, even serving on the state executive committee, but last year's Lok Sabha elections disrupted their alignment. BJP offered him a ticket to contest from the Asansol constituency in West Bengal, which he declined, declaring his intention to contest from a Bihar seat instead.
Also Read: Disillusioned with BJP in one year… Can Manish Kashyap find a footing in Prashant Kishor’s politics?
Pawan independently contested from the Karakat constituency in his home district of Bhojpur, which was reserved for Upendra Kushwaha’s party within the NDA alliance. Pawan’s presence pushed Upendra Kushwaha to third place. BJP isn’t keen on reigniting tensions with Upendra Kushwaha and the Koeri voters by welcoming Pawan back.
Source: aajtak
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PK and Jan Suraj fit Pawan’s bill, while Pawan fits Jan Suraj’s
Pawan Singh seeks a new political shelter, while Jan Suraj, led by PK, looks for popular figures with a solid voter base. Pawan fits this niche, blending well with PK’s and Jan Suraj’s innovative style of political engagement aimed at youth. Despite losing the 2024 contest, Pawan remained politically active, aligning well with Jan Suraj's ethos.
Also Read: Why is BJP focusing on RJD’s base in the Bhojpuri belt, first in Karakat, now in Siwan?
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Committed to contesting, with no retreat
Pawan Singh announced his candidacy for the 2024 Lok Sabha election early on. When BJP didn’t offer him a ticket from Bihar, he chose to run independently from Karakat. He has also asserted that he will contest the state assembly elections, a declaration made as early as March, expressing that once committed to politics, there’s no turning back. Pawan stated that he will not back down from Karakat.
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A new party alliance better than solo run, even if novel
By independently running from Karakat in the Lok Sabha elections and garnering nearly three lakh votes, Pawan Singh demonstrated his strength. He not only secured the second position but also pushed Upendra Kushwaha to third. While his performance impressed, the sentiment lingers among his supporters that, with party backing, outcomes could have been different. They believe that a party alliance, albeit new, may increase victory prospects in the assembly elections, as it would supplement Pawan’s vote bank with additional support.
