Bhojpuri is a language which is also spoken abroad in countries like Mauritius, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago. The stars emerging from this language are making a splash in national politics, but these same stars are nowhere to be seen in the election contest in Bihar. Manoj Tiwari, a resident of Atarwalia village in Kaimur district of Bihar, has made Delhi his political “workplace”, while Ravi Kishan and Dinesh Lal Yadav are again in the election fray from ‘Nirahua’ Uttar Pradesh. Similarly, before the announcement of Lok Sabha elections, there was a lot of talk about Pawan Singh, a native of Arrah, contesting the elections. He also got the ticket but that too not from Bihar but from West Bengal. Then Pawan Singh refused to contest the elections due to a dispute.
The only Bhojpuri singer from Bihar contesting as an independent
Now there is speculation that Congress may give ticket to Neha Singh Rathore, who has made headlines on the internet with her songs. She was seen attending many party programs including Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra’. Gunjan Kumar, the only popular Bhojpuri/Magahi singer to contest from Bihar, said, “Many Bhojpuri superstars are in the fray for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, but no one from Bihar or the neighboring state of Jharkhand, known as the hub of the regional film industry, can contest the elections.” Gunjan Kumar is contesting as an independent candidate from Nawada Lok Sabha constituency where voting will be held on April 19. Gunjan said that she had approached all the major political parties for a ticket to contest elections from her hometown Nawada, but no one gave her the ticket, hence she had to contest as an independent.
No one fought from Bihar after Shatrughan Sinha
Bhojpuri singer Gunjan Kumar said, “It seems that political parties are not showing interest in fielding Bhojpuri singers/actors from Bihar in the Lok Sabha elections.” However, in the assembly, Bhojpuri singer Vinay Bihari is contesting from Lauria assembly seat of West Champaran. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from. Kumar said, “If I recall, Shatrughan Sinha, popularly known as Bihari Babu, was the last actor to stand for the Lok Sabha elections in the state and he had won twice from Patna Sahib constituency. After that, he was not given ticket in 2019 but now he is contesting elections again from Asansol seat of West Bengal.
“Tickets are given from other seats, but not from Bihar”
Vinay Bihari, three-time BJP MLA from Lauria assembly seat, also expressed similar views and said, “It is true that major political parties are a little hesitant in giving Lok Sabha tickets to Bhojpuri actors/singers from Bihar itself.” They (actors/singers) are given Lok Sabha tickets from other states, but not from Bihar.” Bihari further said that in 2014, BJP had given ticket to Shatrughan Sinha from Patna Sahib from where he won, but after that After this, no Bhojpuri actor or singer was given Lok Sabha ticket from Bihar. He also said that Janata Dal United (JDU) had also given Lok Sabha ticket to filmmaker Prakash Jha from West Champaran in 2014. He said, “I can understand this pain. When I won the election from Lauria assembly seat in 2010, I stood as an independent candidate. After this I joined BJP and won in 2015 and 2020. No party was ready to give me a ticket in the 2010 assembly.
Ravi Kishan said – This is not the case with BJP
On the same subject, popular Bhojpuri actor and BJP candidate from Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seat Ravi Kishan said, “At least this is not the case with our party (BJP). Our top leadership analyzes every aspect including various social equations before giving ticket to any person including Bhojpuri actors and singers. The party ticket is always given to the most eligible candidate. Same is the situation in Bihar. Senior Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and party spokesperson (Bihar unit) Mrityunjay Tiwari said, “Many factors are kept in mind by the top leadership while giving Lok Sabha tickets. Our party Chief Lalu Prasad ji has always given due respect to Bhojpuri artistes. I am sure that in the coming years, under the leadership of Tejashwi Prasad Yadav ji, our party will consider fielding Bhojpuri actors/singers in the Lok Sabha elections.”
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