Sushant Singh Rajput’s cousin Divya Gautam to contest Bihar polls as CPI(ML) candidate from Digha

Her nomination marks a blend of family legacy and grassroots activism in one of Bihar’s most closely watched electoral battles.

The CPI-ML, a key constituent of the opposition Mahagathbandhan (INDIA bloc) in Bihar, has named Divya Gautam as its candidate from the Digha assembly seat ahead of the upcoming state polls. She is set to file her nomination papers on October 15.

A former leader of the All India Students’ Association (AISA), Gautam has long been active in civic and social initiatives in Patna. Her candidature is being seen as a strategic move by the Left party to attract younger and women voters in the urban constituency, currently represented by BJP MLA Sanjeev Chaurasia, son of Sikkim and Meghalaya Governor Ganga Prasad.

Divya Gautam holds a postgraduate degree in journalism and mass communication from Patna University and is an alumna of Patna Women’s College. She previously served as an assistant professor at her alma mater before joining the Bihar government as a supply inspector through the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC). She later resigned from the post to work full-time on social and community causes.

Photo: CPI-ML Facebook

Her family connection to the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who hailed from the same Rajeev Nagar area under Digha constituency limits, has drawn additional public attention. Locals say her candidacy has evoked emotional resonance among residents familiar with the Rajput family’s presence in the area.

The CPI(ML) also announced other candidates — Rambali Yadav (Ghosi, Jehanabad), Madan Singh Chandravanshi (Tarari, Bhojpur), Shiv Prakash Ranjan (Agiaon), and Qauamuddin Ansari (Ara).

While the Mahagathbandhan has yet to finalise its formal seat-sharing formula, Left allies have begun declaring candidates for constituencies they expect to retain within the alliance. The ruling NDA, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) and the BJP, has already concluded its seat distribution, with the BJP contesting 101 of the 243 seats.

Gautam’s entry, blending academic credentials, grassroots activism, and a well-known family name, positions her as a notable face in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections.