Kolkata: Bhojpuri singer Pawan Singh, who had been chosen by the BJP to contest from West Bengal's Asansol constituency in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, announced on Sunday via X that he would not be participating in the electoral race. Expressing gratitude towards the leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Singh acknowledged the party's trust in him and his selection as the candidate from Asansol. However, citing undisclosed reasons, he conveyed his inability to contest from the constituency. Shortly after Singh's announcement, Trinamool Congress leaders responded with criticism. TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee took to X to commend the resilience and power of the people of West Bengal. Additionally, newly elected Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose of the Trinamool Congress commented on Singh's withdrawal, attributing it to the backlash he faced over controversial "sexist misogynist videos." Ghose's tweet underscored the impact of the Trinamool Congress in prompting Singh's withdrawal and criticized the BJP's claims of promoting "nari shakti" (women empowerment) in Bengal as hollow and devoid of meaning. Jharkhand CM Warns Against BJP's Alleged Threat to Tribal Rights and Land Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Set for Expansion: BJP Government to Add New Members Ravi Kishan Expresses Gratitude to PM Modi as BJP Nominates Him for Gorakhpur Seat