Bihar: NDA eyes gains in Magadh, Shahabad with new leaders

BJP has inducted new leaders into the party with a focus on the Magadh-Shahabad region. In the run-up to the assembly election, the party inducted three leaders on Tuesday - former Indian Police Service officer Anand Mishra, who had been with Jan Suraj of Prashant Kishor, former Union minister Nagmani and Ashutosh, who runs a caste-based organisation for Bhumihar community. Their induction indicated that the BJP is working on a plan for the Magadh-Shahabad region. All three leaders hail from the region, where the ruling NDA performed poorly in the 2020 assembly election and 2024 Lok Sabha election. Mishra contested from Buxar LS as an independent and led to the loss of the BJP in the constituency. It is expected that Mishra will now contest from Buxar assembly seat.

Former Union minister Nagmani has changed his party for the 14th time and joined the BJP for the third time. He was also in Jan Suraj. Nagmani belongs to the Kushwaha community, which ditched the NDA during the 2024 LS election. With his induction the BJP is aiming to woo the Kushwaha community. Ashutosh is a noted Bhumihar leader known for his stand for the caste, which has a significant presence in the region.

People in the know said Bhojpuri actor Pawan Singh is also likely to join the BJP and contest the forthcoming assembly election. In 2024, the BJP had announced Singh's candidature from Asansol in West Bengal. However, the party had to withdraw his name due to controversies. Singh then contested as an independent from Karakat Lok Sabha seat and became the reason for the loss of NDA candidate and RLM leader Upendra Kushwaha. The BJP had to send Kushwaha to the Rajya Sabha to pacify the anger of the Kushwaha community. Now, by the inclusion of Pawan Singh, the party wants to have the best of both the worlds.