Pawan Singh, Kushwaha patch up as NDA eyes Bihar revival

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has begun manoeuvres to revive its electoral prospects in Bihar's Shahabad and Magadh regions, where it suffered heavy setbacks in the 2020 assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

- ANAND SINGH

On Tuesday, Bhojpuri actor-turned-politician Pawan Singh met Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief Upendra Kushwaha in Delhi, in what party insiders described as a “masterstroke” ahead of the assembly polls.

Singh, accompanied by Bihar BJP in-charge Vinod Tawde, paid respects by touching Kushwaha's feet before the two posed for photographs. Sources said the meeting was planned to iron out differences between the leaders, particularly following their rivalry in the Karakat constituency during last year's general election. Tawde, along with BJP national secretary Rituraj Sinha, had also held discussions with Kushwaha the previous night. After Tuesday's meeting, Tawde asserted that Singh "will always remain in the BJP and follow its ideology".