The announcement has drawn attention, as Divya comes from a reputed family and has a strong academic and political background.
Late actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s cousin, Divya Gautam, has been named the CPI(ML) Liberation candidate for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. She will contest from the Digha assembly seat and is expected to file her nomination on Wednesday.
The announcement has drawn attention, as Divya comes from a reputed family and has a strong academic and political background.
Divya Gautam is a former assistant professor and PhD scholar from Patna University. She completed her degree in Mass Communication from the same institution and later joined Patna Women’s College, where she worked as a teacher for three and a half years.
Her active participation in student politics began during her college years. She became a well-known face of the All India Students’ Association (AISA), the student wing of CPI(ML).
In 2012, she contested the Patna University Students’ Union (PUSU) elections as AISA’s presidential candidate and secured the second position.
Divya also cleared the 64th Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination and was selected for the post of Supply Inspector in the Bihar government.
However, she chose research and social work over a career in government service. She is now a Junior Research Fellow (JRF)-qualified PhD scholar and continues to focus on social activism and women’s empowerment in Bihar.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation is part of Bihar’s ‘Mahagathbandhan’ (Grand Alliance), which includes the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress.
While the alliance has not yet finalized the seat-sharing arrangement, CPI(ML) has started naming its candidates for the seats it expects to contest.
Earlier, the CPI(M), another Left ally, announced that its sitting MLAs, Ajay Kumar and Satyendra Yadav, will file their nominations on October 14 and October 18, respectively.
On the other side, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has finalized its seat-sharing formula for the 2025 Bihar Assembly Elections.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest 101 out of 243 seats, while Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) has settled for a proportionate share, giving up its earlier demand for more seats.
The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), led by Chirag Paswan, will contest 29 seats. Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha and Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha will each contest six seats.
Divya Gautam’s entry into electoral politics marks a significant step for the CPI(ML) and the Left alliance. Her educational background, youth leadership, and connection to the late Sushant Singh Rajput add to her visibility in the political landscape.
Her campaign in Digha will test the Left’s grassroots strength in urban Patna and reflect the growing participation of young professionals in Bihar politics.
