Manish Kashyap, a well-known YouTuber with a strong presence in Bihar politics, has officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His move into active politics, especially during the election season, has sparked speculation about his potential candidacy in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. However, the chances of him contesting on a BJP ticket in Bihar seem slim, given that the party, as part of the NDA (National Democratic Alliance), has already announced all its candidates in the state.
Despite not contesting, Kashyap’s entry into the BJP adds to the party’s arsenal for campaign purposes. His popularity and influence, particularly among younger demographics and social media users, can be leveraged effectively during poll campaigns. The BJP is likely to use his reach to target leaders from the Mahagathbandhan, especially Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), highlighting Kashyap’s endorsement as a sign of support for the BJP’s agenda and leadership.
Manish Kashyap faced legal troubles stemming from his involvement in sharing fake viral videos related to an alleged assault on workers from Bihar in Tamil Nadu. Kashyap, a popular YouTuber with a significant presence in Bihar politics, shared these videos through his official YouTube channel, drawing ire from both the Tamil Nadu government and the Bihar government led by Nitish Kumar’s JDU and Tejashwi Yadav’s RJD.
The circulation of these videos led to controversy as they were later deemed fake and misleading by authorities. The Tamil Nadu government, along with the then Director General of Police (DGP) Shailendra Babu, denounced the videos as false, sparking legal repercussions for Kashyap. The Economic Offenses Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police filed a report against him, leading to his arrest and subsequent imprisonment for around nine months.
Multiple FIRs were registered against Kashyap in Tamil Nadu, prompting him to go underground to evade arrest. However, after the police began confiscating his property, he surrendered to authorities. The EOU team took charge of the case, conducting interrogations and ultimately sending Kashyap to jail.
Manish Kashyap gained attention for his vocal attacks on then Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav over migrant issues in states like Tamil Nadu. He even threatened to topple Tejashwi’s government within 180 days, aligning himself with BJP’s anti-incumbency stance. Kashyap’s confrontational style and political rhetoric made him a face of anti-Tejashwi politics, drawing support from those critical of the state government’s policies. However, his legal troubles and subsequent jail time shifted the focus away from his political activism.