In a surprising fusion of Bollywood legacy and leftist politics, Divya Gautam, cousin of the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, has been announced as the candidate for the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation [CPI(ML) Liberation] from the Digha assembly constituency in the upcoming Bihar elections. The nomination filing is set for Wednesday, marking her entry into the high-stakes electoral fray as part of the opposition Mahagathbandhan alliance, which includes the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress. This development adds an unexpected layer to Bihar's polarized political landscape, where family ties to a national icon could sway urban voters in Patna's bustling Digha area.
Gautam, a seasoned activist and former leader of the All India Students' Association (AISA), brings a robust background in student mobilization and social justice campaigns to the table. Her decision to contest under the CPI(ML) Liberation banner underscores the party's strategy to leverage young, dynamic faces in constituencies with strong working-class and youth demographics. Digha, a key Patna seat with over 3 lakh voters, has historically oscillated between NDA and opposition strongholds, making it a battleground ripe for Gautam's grassroots appeal. Party insiders note her prior involvement in protests against educational privatization and labor rights, positioning her as a counter to the ruling coalition's development narrative.
The Mahagathbandhan has yet to unveil its full seat-sharing agreement, but smaller allies like CPI(ML) Liberation are proactively staking claims on winnable seats to assert their influence within the bloc. This mirrors moves by fellow Left partner CPI(M), which has fielded its sitting MLAs—Ajay Kumar and Satyendra Yadav—for re-election, with nominations slated for October 14 and 18 respectively. Such early declarations signal internal negotiations amid the alliance's push to consolidate anti-incumbency votes against the Nitish Kumar-led government, especially on issues like unemployment and agrarian distress plaguing Bihar.
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On the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) side, seat allocations have been locked in decisively. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will field candidates across 101 seats, while Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)], under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has settled for a balanced share after initially demanding more. Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) secures 29 constituencies, with Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Morcha and Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha each allotted six. This formula aims to maintain coalition harmony while targeting key demographics like upper castes, EBCs, and Dalits, contrasting sharply with the opposition's ongoing haggling.
The Bihar assembly polls, scheduled in two phases on November 6 and 11 with results on November 14, promise a fiercely contested affair across 243 seats. Gautam's candidacy not only revives memories of Sushant Singh Rajput's Patna roots—where he began his journey before Bollywood stardom—but also highlights the increasing influx of celebrity-linked figures into politics, following trends seen with Bhojpuri stars like Akshara Singh eyeing NDA ties. As nominations roll in, analysts predict her run could galvanize youth turnout, challenging the NDA's dominance in urban pockets while testing the Left's resurgence in a state long dominated by caste-based alliances.
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