Bihar Politics: Bhojpuri Stockholm Syndrome Stirs Poll Plot

The Shahabad region of Bihar has long been known as the land of rebels. The people there know no masters, literally.

By MANISH ANAND

PATNA, September 30, 2025 — Charles Dudley Warner’s 1870 essay made the task of political writers easier. He summed up strange ways of politics succinctly — “Politics makes strange bedfellows.”

With Amit Shah helming the political affairs of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for over a decade now, Warner’s articulation is now a new normal, at least in the saffron outfit. Shah faces stress test in upcoming Bihar elections. Challenges are evident and stark — an aged CM face Nitish Kumar, resurgent MY (Muslim-Yadav) equation, and Bihar unit of the BJP showing signs of yesterday’s shadow.

In 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Bihar gave a rude shock to the BJP. Yet Bihar stopped short to give a jolt like Uttar Pradesh to the BJP. But the message was loud and clear — saffron summer is sighting sunset.

The Shahabad region of Bihar has long been known as the land of rebels. The people there know no masters, literally. The BJP knows it better. RK Singh, Union Minister in Modi 2.0 government, was grounded in Arrah Lok Sabha seat. Upendra Singh Kushwaha, Union Minister in Modi 1.0 government, was humbled in Karakat parliamentary constituency. Buxar, which gave a Union Minister in Ashwani Kumar Choube in first two terms of the Modi government, rejected the BJP in 2024.

The Shahabad tremors hit even parts of Patna and also shook citadel of the BJP in Sasaram. Popular Bhojpuri singer Pawan Singh proved to be a nemesis for the BJP.

Political grapevines claim that Pawan Singh “took revenge on the BJP for insult in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.” Popularity of this Bhojpuri singer is such that his stint in a reality show drew claims of garnering more TRP than Salman Khan-hosted Big Boss.

The BJP already boasting an ensemble of Bhojpuri singers had apparently failed to size up the stature of Pawan Singh. The saffron outfit seemingly thought that he is just another Manoj Tiwary or Nirahua (Dinesh Lal Yadav).

He was sent to Asansol in West Bengal to contest against Bihari Babu Shatrughan Sinha—the original Jai Shri Ram sloganeer, who parted ways with the BJP after the rise of Modi-Shah era in the party. Heart of Pawan Singh was pining for Shahabad—the region that gave him a stardom.

The rebellious Bhojpuri singer read history of Shahabad and raised the banner of revolt. Pawan Singh threw a challenge to Kushwaha in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Karakat seat. The CPI (ML) celebrated the saffron sag.

Shah is learnt to be stitching the torn Shahabad script. The stage is set for Pawan Singh to shake hands with Kushwaha. Past pain may soon be forgotten.

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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