Lok Sabha polls: BJP's Asansol candidate steps aside amid Trinamool backlash

Amid backlash from Trinamool Congress, Bhojpuri actor-singer Pawan Singh on Sunday announced that he won't contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls from Asansol, a day after BJP named him as its candidate from the constituency. The seat is currently represented by Trinamool Congress' Shatrughan Sinha.

Singh's X Handle was flooded with his movie posters, tweeted by former Asansol MP Babul Supriyo, and jibes from Trinamool leaders Derek O'Brien and others. Trinamool leaders mocked BJP by saying that it surrendered the seat even before the commencement of campaign.

BJP's West Bengal chief Sukanta Majumdar said: "It is Singh's personal decision. The party will do the needful."


Singh posted on X on Sunday: "I express my heartfelt gratitude to the top leadership of Bharatiya Janata Party. The party trusted me and declared me as the candidate from Asansol, but due to some reason, I will not be able to contest the elections from Asansol.... @JPNadda."

It all started with a tweet from former BJP leader Babul Supriyo late Saturday night: "Asansol ko Pawan Singhji Mubarak ho @BJP4Bengal... I have not verified it personally nor will verify them but I am flooded with posters of these films... Nothing against Pawanji the artist, but if these posters are true, then it clearly shows what kind of respect @BJP4India has for Bengal & especially for women from Bengal... Sure Honble PM sir will come to Polo Ground to campaign for him."

Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee termed Singh's withdrawal as the victory of the people of Bengal. Sources close to Pawan Singh said that he was not willing to contest against Bollywood icon Shatrughan Sinha.

O'Brien said: "Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to Bengal and lectured us on nari shakti and women's power. Then, he gave a ticket to someone who vilified Bengali women. That is Modi ki Guarantee - if you speak ill of Bengal and women, BJP will give you a ticket."