Kolkata: The BJP's Lok Sabha candidate for Asansol seat, actor-singer Pawan Singh, on Sunday decided not to contest the Lok Sabha election from Asansol, a day after the party's central leadership announced a list of 20 nominees, including him, to contest the election from West Bengal.
In a post on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the Bhojpuri artist said he would not contest the upcoming Parliament election due to some reasons.
“I express my heartfelt gratitude to the top leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The party trusted me and declared me the candidate from Asansol, but due to some reason I will not be able to contest the elections from Asansol," he said.
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भारतीय जनता पार्टी के शीर्ष नेतृत्व को दिल से आभार प्रकट करता हु।
पार्टी ने मुझ पर विश्वास करके आसनसोल का उम्मीदवार घोषित किया लेकिन किसी कारण वश में आसनसोल से चुनाव नहीं लड़ पाऊंगा…@JPNadda
There has been no comment from the BJP state leadership so far on the withdrawal of Pawan Singh from the contest.
Reports said the news came at a time when BJP activists were seen beginning wall writings in favor of their official candidate.
Asansol is an industrial town, the second largest, and one of the most populated cities in the state.
State-ruling TMC leader and newly elected Rajya Sabha member Sushmita Dev described the BJP candidate's decision as the "first self-goal of the BJP in Bengal.".
"This is Khela Hobe even before the khela begins, a tweet from Rajya Sabha member Derek O. Brien said.