Congress Fields Bihar State Chief's Son Akash Prasad Singh From Maharajganj Seat (Photo on X Aakash Prasad Singh @AakashPdSingh)

Akash Prasad Singh, son of the Congress state president Akhilesh Prasad Singh, is the Congress candidate from the Bihar”s Maharajganj Lok Sabha constituency. In his electoral debut, he unsuccessfully contested the 2019 general election from East Champaran Lok Sabha constituency as the youngest candidate from the state. In the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, he is set to face the veteran BJP leader and sitting MP Janardan Singh Sigriwal from Maharajganj

Notably, the nomination of Akash Prasad has caused resentment in the party circles. Reports suggest that the Congress nominee is not a major player in the politics of the constituency, but the party”s leadership was convinced by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)”s persistent demand and convincing discussions. The name was reportedly recommended by the six district presidents of Paschim Champaran, Purvi Champaran, Arwal, Jahanabad, Nawada and Maharajganj.

It is also reported that RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has also intervened and suggested that his party would help Congress win the seat, assuring the winnability of the candidate. The move expedited the finalisation of the candidature of Akash Prasad from the seat.

Akash Prasad Singh comes from a family with a rich political legacy. His father Akhilesh Singh was reportedly instrumental in getting his son a ticket from the Congress leadership.

Notably, the constituency has been with the saffron party since 2014. BJP”s Janardan Singh Sigriwal captured the seat with a relative majority in 2014. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP sitting MP retained the seat with a significant majority of 2,30,772 votes. The Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and Janata Dal United JD(U) recently joined the NDA, strengthening the prospects of the BJP candidate.