BJP’s Clampdown on Rebels: Four Leaders Expelled in Bihar Ahead of 2025 Assembly Polls

Patna: To strengthen the unity of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and strictly enforce party discipline, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has expelled four prominent leaders in Bihar from primary membership for six years. The action, announced on October 27, 2025, is targeted at leaders who decided to contest elections as independent candidates against NDA nominees in violation of official instructions. The move underlines the BJP's zero-tolerance policy towards internal dissent as the state gears up for a high-stakes electoral battle, expected in late 2025.

Four Leaders accused of anti-party activities

The expelled leaders—Varun Singh, Anup Kumar Srivastava, Pawan Yadav, and Surya Bhan Singh—have been accused of "anti-party activities," undermining the alliance's carefully prepared candidate list. According to party insiders, the move is a preemptive strike to prevent vote division in key constituencies where rebel candidatures could weaken the NDA's lead, especially against the strong opposition led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and its allies.

Varun Singh contesting from Bahadurganj as an independent candidate

Varun Singh, a vocal local leader from Kishanganj district, was expelled to become an independent candidate from Bahadurganj, a Muslim-dominated seat where the NDA has historically faced challenges. His decision against selecting an alliance has been seen as a flagrant violation of party sentiments, which could divide the BJP's core voter base of upper-caste Hindus and extremely backward classes (EBCs).

Anup Kumar Srivastava challenges the NDA's strategy

Similarly, Anup Kumar Srivastava's rebellion in Gopalganj, a Yadav-dominated area and an old stronghold of Lalu Prasad Yadav's family, deepens the mystery. Srivastava, a longtime party worker contesting the election as an independent, challenges the NDA's strategy, which focuses on consolidating backward class support through the Janata Dal (United). The constituency has a history of unstable alliances and could lead to a three-way split if the dispute escalates.

Pawan Yadav accused of violating seat-sharing agreements

The most prominent among the quartet is Pawan Yadav, the current MLA from Kahalgaon, which is in Bhagalpur district. Yadav, a two-term MLA, is known for his grassroots-level activism. His removal action stemmed from his ignoring repeated warnings in favor of personal ambition. Allegations of violating seat-sharing agreements within the NDA have painted him as a disintegrator, especially in the region where flood-related grievances are being highlighted by the opposition.

Surya Bhan Singh revolted

Surya Bhan Singh is from Badhara in Darbhanga, an agricultural belt where caste dynamics play a significant role. Singh's rebellion is seen as a direct affront to the BJP's efforts to expand its reach in the north Bihar heartland, where it is banking on Rajput and OBC consolidation.

The BJP adopted this strategy in the 2019 & 2022 elections

This purge is not an isolated incident but part of the BJP's strategy that was seen in previous elections like Uttar Pradesh 2022 and Maharashtra 2019, where quick purges suppressed factionalism and increased voting percentage. In Bihar, where the NDA returned to power under Nitish Kumar in 2020, the stakes are much higher. The 243-seat assembly is the battleground for national narratives—development versus dynasty, Hindutva versus social justice. The Election Commission is yet to announce the dates, but for the polls to be held in November-December 2025, the BJP is focused on anti-flood policies to avoid a repeat of the disaster of 2015, when the Nitish-Lalu alliance ousted the NDA.