BJP Pawan Singh Withdraws Candidacy from Asansol Lok Sabha Election

Bhojpuri singer-actor Pawan Singh has withdrawn his name from the Lok Sabha poll contest for the Asansol seat in West Bengal. This decision comes a day after the BJP announced him as its candidate for the constituency currently represented by Trinamool Congress's Shatrughan Sinha. In a statement, Singh expressed gratitude to the BJP leadership for his candidature but cited "some reason" for his withdrawal from the Asansol candidacy. While he did not specify the reason, Singh's candidature had faced criticism from the TMC, alleging that some of his songs were crude and depicted women in a vulgar manner. The BJP, which had hoped Singh would be an effective counter to Sinha in Asansol, seemingly decided to nudge him to step aside to defuse the controversy. This decision comes amidst heightened tensions between the BJP and TMC, particularly in light of recent allegations of sexual assault and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali involving suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and his associates. Asansol, home to a significant migrant population, remains a key battleground, and Singh's withdrawal marks a significant development in the electoral landscape of the region. #politicalgossip