The Bihar Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has expelled Bhojpuri singer Pawan Singh for running as an Independent candidate in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Singh is contesting from the Karakat seat, opposing the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)'s official candidate.

Pawan Singh, who had announced his candidacy from Karakat, was a known BJP member. However, the party had remained silent about his status. Reports suggest that Singh initially sought a ticket from the Rashtriya Janata Dal before deciding to run independently.

In a social media post on X, Singh declared, ?There will only be development. There won't be any noise. We will give a new dawn to Karakat.? This statement came during a period of rising tensions within the party.

Earlier, Singh's mother, Pratima Devi, had withdrawn her candidacy from the Karakat Lok Sabha seat. Upendra Kushwaha, the head of Rashtriya Lok Morcha and a former Union minister, is the NDA candidate for the southern Bihar seat. Singh chose to contest from Karakat after refusing a BJP ticket from Asansol in West Bengal. The Election Commission of India confirmed Pratima Devi's withdrawal, noting she had filed her nomination as an Independent candidate on May 14.

Speculations suggest that Pratima Devi entered the race at her son's urging, fearing his own nomination might be rejected. The final date for withdrawing nominations from the Karakat seat was May 17, with elections set for June 1.

Pawan Singh's decision to run against the NDA nominee has drawn criticism from BJP leaders, including Union minister RK Singh, who is seeking re-election from the neighbouring Arrah Lok Sabha seat. Singh's move was viewed as a breach of party loyalty, leading to his expulsion.