Karakat: A Battleground With Kushwaha Candidates, Pawan Singh, And Rajput Voters In Focus (image-X/PawanSingh909)
In the lead-up to the 18th Lok Sabha elections, the Karakat constituency in southern Bihar has emerged as an interesting site, pitting Kushwaha candidates against each other. With an intense fight to secure the Rajput support, the political scene in Karakat is turning out to be very interesting with INDIA alliance, JD(U) and the controversial Pawan Singh in the fray.
Historically, a region with strong Leftist leanings and the former stronghold of the Triveni Singh – an early 1930s alliance of Yadavs, Kurmis, and Kushwahas – the Karakat constituency has undergone significant political transformations.
While Yadavs largely support the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Kushwaha and Kurmi communities traditionally lean towards the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), particularly the Janata Dal (United) (JDU), led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
With the coalition allocating tickets to seven Kushwaha candidates across Bihar, the Mahagathbandhan, an alliance of RJD, Congress, and Left parties, has strategically focused on securing the Kushwaha vote. Another ally, the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) (CPI-ML), has fielded Rajaram Singh Kushwaha in Karakat, a move aimed at consolidating Leftist and Kushwaha support.
Competing for the same seat is Upendra Kushwaha, a seasoned politician and leader of the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP), now an ally of the NDA. Upendra, a former union minister, had won the Karakat seat in 2014 as an NDA candidate but lost it in 2019 when he aligned with the RJD. His return to the NDA suggests a calculated move to regain support among Kushwaha voters who remain loyal to the BJP.
However, the entry of independent candidate and Bhojpuri film actor Pawan Singh has added an unexpected twist. Initially given a BJP ticket in West Bengal”s Asansol and following his withdrawal after intense criticism for his misogynistic content and controversial personal history, Pawan”s decision to run independently from Karakat has complicated situations. His popularity, especially among Rajput voters – historically significant in the region before delimitation – poses a challenge to the NDA”s efforts to ensure a smooth transfer of Rajput votes to Upendra Kushwaha.
While campaigning in Karakat on May 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters to avoid splitting their votes. Despite the efforts of the BJP to consolidate Rajput support, the community’s historical connection to the constituency, combined with Pawan Singh’s entry, has created uncertainty for the saffron party.
Local political observers note that demographic changes post-delimitation have shifted the power balance towards Kushwaha voters. With Kushwaha voters dominating politics in the region, Singh’s popularity has grown quickly.
The NDA has responded by deploying several high-profile Rajput leaders to mitigate the potential fallout from Pawan Singh”s candidacy. Leaders like MLC Krishna Singh, former minister Jai Kumar Singh, and JDU MLC Sanjay Singh are actively campaigning to ensure Rajput votes remain aligned with Upendra Kushwaha. A close friend of Upendra and JD(U) leader Ram Bihari Singh expressed confidence among Rajput voters’ support for the NDA.
Meanwhile, the RJD has strategically fielded Kushwaha candidates in neighbouring constituencies to strengthen support in Karakat.
