Patna, October 18, 2025 – In a setback for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar, Seema Singh, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) [LJP(RV)] candidate for the Marhaura assembly seat in Saran district, has had her nomination papers rejected. The rejection occurred during the scrutiny process ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.
Seema Singh, a former Bhojpuri actress known as the "Dancing Queen" of Bhojpuri cinema, entered politics by joining Chirag Paswan's LJP(RV). The party nominated her to contest from Marhaura, a politically active constituency. Her entry was anticipated to attract young voters; however, the nomination rejection has abruptly halted her political debut.
According to reports, the returning officer rejected Singh's papers, along with those of three other candidates, due to "technical grounds" and discrepancies found in the submitted documents. The other rejected nominations include BSP's Aditya Kumar, JD(U) rebel Altaf Alam Raju (contesting as an Independent), and another Independent candidate, Vishal Kumar. Election officials emphasized that the cancellations followed an impartial verification process.
The rejection of Seema Singh's nomination narrows the electoral fight in Marhaura to a contest between RJD's Jitendra Rai and Jan Suraaj's Abhay Singh. Jitendra Rai, the incumbent MLA since 2010, is considered a strong candidate with deep local roots. Political analysts suggest that Seema Singh's disqualification could benefit the RJD by reducing competition for the incumbent MLA.
Chirag Paswan, when questioned about the development, stated that the party has submitted a representation to the Election Commission. He attributed the situation to a "small lapse" and expressed hope for a resolution.
Seema Singh, 42, has acted in several Bhojpuri movies and songs. According to her affidavit, her total income for the assessment year 2025-26 was ₹5,48,011. The affidavit also indicates a pending criminal case against her, in which charges were framed but no conviction has occurred. She declared her educational qualification as having passed ninth grade.
The Bihar Assembly elections are scheduled to be conducted in two phases on November 6 and 11, with the counting of votes on November 14. The disqualification of Seema Singh's nomination is a setback for the NDA, as she was considered a strong candidate with the potential to draw crowds.
