Political Churn In Bihar? Pawan Singh And Manish Kashyap's Lucknow Meet Sparks Buzz

News18

20-06-2025

Last Updated:
Ahead of Bihar Elections 2025, Pawan Singh and Manish Kashyap's meeting in Lucknow has sparked speculation about a new political alliance in the state
A high-profile meeting between film star Pawan Singh and YouTuber-turned-political commentator Manish Kashyap in Lucknow has stirred the political pot in Bihar, setting off a fresh round of speculation about an emerging alliance or new political front. The encounter, which took place recently, is being widely discussed not only in the entertainment industry but also in the corridors of Bihar politics.
What's fuelling the buzz is not just the meeting itself, but the context in which it occurred. Both Singh and Kashyap have been at the centre of recent controversies and are currently seen as disenchanted with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). A photograph from the meeting, showing Pawan Singh's mother placing her hand on the heads of both men in a symbolic gesture of blessing, has gone viral, further intensifying public curiousity.
Pawan Singh, often called Bhojpuri cinema's 'power star", had contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the Karakat seat. However, the BJP-led NDA had officially backed former Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha on the same seat. Both candidates ended up losing, and Singh has since maintained a conspicuous distance from the BJP, prompting speculation about his future political path.
Manish Kashyap, on the other hand, has been openly critical of the BJP in recent months. A vocal online personality with a strong grassroots following, Kashyap exited the party after an alleged assault incident at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), where he claimed he was targeted due to political pressure. Since then, he has levelled several serious accusations against BJP leadership, accusing the party of abandoning core issues and suppressing dissent.
Now, their Lucknow meeting is being interpreted as more than just a casual get-together. Political observers see it as a potential realignment, possibly the early signs of a new political formation aimed at challenging existing players in Bihar's volatile electoral landscape.
The timing of the meeting is particularly significant. With the dust barely settling on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, political players across Bihar are already shifting focus to the 2025 Assembly elections. The state has a history of political upheavals and surprise alliances, and the emergence of a fresh face or front is never off the table.
While there is no official word from either Singh or Kashyap about the purpose of their meeting, insiders suggest discussions may have included future political collaboration, particularly around youth-centric and regional issues. Supporters of Manish Kashyap see this as the beginning of his political reinvention, an attempt to pivot from digital activism to electoral politics. Meanwhile, fans of Pawan Singh are interpreting the development as an effort to build a broader social and political base beyond cinema.
The presence of Pawan Singh's mother in the meeting photo adds a layer of symbolism that hasn't gone unnoticed. In a political culture where family blessings and social optics hold weight, the image is being seen as a public endorsement of unity and shared purpose. It's also being interpreted as a subtle signal that something more concrete may be in the works, perhaps an announcement down the line, closer to the Bihar elections.
In a state where celebrity appeal and caste equations both play major roles in election outcomes, a coalition or partnership between Singh and Kashyap, backed by their significant social media reach, could emerge as a wildcard.
First Published:
June 17, 2025, 14:04 IST