Sushant Singh Rajput’s cousin Divya Gautam steps into Bihar politics, CPI(ML) bets on her for Digha seat — here’s why

Late actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s cousin, Divya Gautam, has been announced as the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation candidate for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. She will contest from the Digha constituency, a seat that is expected to witness a competitive contest this year. Gautam is set to file her nomination papers on Wednesday, as part of the CPI(ML)’s early candidate announcements within the opposition alliance.

Divya Gautam comes from a diverse professional background. A theatre artist and former All India Students’ Association (AISA) leader, she has been actively involved in student and social movements in Bihar. Gautam holds both a bachelor’s and a postgraduate degree in journalism and mass communication from Patna College, reflecting her academic foundation in media and communication.


She has also served as an assistant professor at Patna Women’s College, where she was part of the teaching faculty before moving into public service. In addition to her academic career, Gautam has worked as a supply inspector in the food and consumer protection department under the Bihar government, adding administrative experience to her profile.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation, or CPI(ML), is a key member of Bihar’s Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), which also includes the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress. While the opposition alliance is yet to finalize a detailed seat-sharing formula, smaller allies like the CPI(ML) have already begun declaring their candidates for constituencies they expect to retain or contest.

Earlier, another Left ally, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), announced that its two sitting MLAs, Ajay Kumar and Satyendra Yadav, would be filing their nomination papers on October 14 and October 18, respectively. This move reflects the opposition’s strategy of early coordination before the final phase of campaign activity.

On the ruling front, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has already finalised its seat-sharing formula for the elections. Under the arrangement, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest 101 of the 243 assembly seats, while Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) has agreed to a proportional share, setting aside its earlier demand for a dominant position.


The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), led by Union Minister Chirag Paswan, has been allotted 29 seats, while the Rashtriya Lok Morcha, headed by Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha, and Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha, have each received six seats.

The Bihar Assembly elections will be conducted in two phases, scheduled for November 6 and November 11, marking the beginning of another crucial political season in the state.

Divya Gautam’s candidature adds a new face to Bihar’s political spectrum while also drawing attention because of her connection to late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput. However, party leaders and supporters emphasize her academic, administrative, and activist credentials, which make her a significant addition to the CPI(ML) lineup in this election.


As political parties finalize their lists and alliances, Digha constituency will likely draw interest from both the electorate and observers keen to see how a new generation of leaders like Gautam shape the state’s upcoming political contest.