BJP receives jolt a day after releasing first list as Asansol candidate Pawan Singh opts out of Lok Sabha race

Pawan Singh, who is a popular name in Bhojpuri movies, wrote on X: "I am thankful to the BJP's top leadership from my heart for selecting me as their candidate from Asansol but due to some reasons I will not be able to fight the polls from the seat."

There has been no comment from the BJP state leadership so far on the withdrawal of Pawan Singh from the contest.

Singh announced at a time when BJP activists were seen beginning wall writings in favour of their official candidate, reported UNI news agency.

Asansol is an industrial town.

Also Read: Bhojpuri actor Pawan Singh, who was fielded by BJP to fight from Asansol, opts out of Lok Sabha polls

It is the second largest and one of the most populated cities in the Trinamool Congress-ruled state.

If Pawan had contested, the Asansol seat could have headed for a faceoff between the Bhojpuri actor-singer and Bollywood actor Shatrughan Sinha, who is the current TMC MP from Asansol.

TMC is yet to announce its candidate list.

The BJP had won the seat twice in 2014 and then in 2019 when former Union Minister Babul Supriyo was fielded as its candidate.

However, the Lok Sabha seat fell vacant after Babul Supriyo resigned after switching from the BJP to the TMC.

Sinha won the by-polls in 2022.

TMC reacts to Pawan Singh's decision

TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee wrote on X: "The INDOMITABLE SPIRIT AND POWER OF THE PEOPLE OF WEST BENGAL."

Slamming the BJP, TMC leader Sushmita Dev posted on X: " First self-goal of @BJP4India in Bengal."

Another senior party leader Derek O'Brien said: "This is Khela Hobe even before the khela begins."

BJP releases first list of 195 candidates

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday unveiled its first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Narendra Modi fielded from Varanasi for the third time

Indian PM Narendra Modi will contest the poll from Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi seat.

This is the third time the PM will be contesting the polls from the politically crucial seat.

He had registered back-to-back victories from the seat in 2014 and then in 2019.

Announcing the names of candidates,  party general secretary Vinod Tawde said: "PM Modi will fight from Varanasi. The list also includes details regarding 34 Central Ministers and MoSs. It also includes the name of Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla and 2 former CMs as well."

"28 of these candidates are women. 47 candidates are under the age of 50. The list also has 27 SC candidates and 18 ST candidates. We're fielding 57 OBC candidates out of these 195," he said.

Also Read: TMC earns maiden Asansol win courtesy Shatrughan Sinha, BJP turncoat Babul Supriyo survives CPI-M threat in Ballygunge

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has been fielded from Gandhinagar seat in Gujarat.