Renowned folk and devotional singer Maithili Thakur has neither confirmed nor denied rumours of entering the political fray in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, but her recent statements have intensified speculation about a possible candidacy on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket. The 28-year-old artist, known for her soulful renditions of Maithili and Bhojpuri folk songs, expressed a deep emotional attachment to her home constituency in Darbhanga district during an interaction with reporters on Monday. Her remarks come days after photographs of her meeting BJP election in-charge Vinod Tawde and Union Minister Nityanand Rai surfaced online, sparking widespread buzz on social media platforms like X.
The images, shared by Tawde on his X handle on Sunday, depicted Thakur in animated discussion with the senior BJP leaders in Bihar. In his post, Tawde highlighted Thakur's personal backstory, noting that her family had migrated from Bihar in 1995 during Lalu Prasad Yadav's tenure as chief minister amid economic turmoil and the "jungle raj" era. He praised her desire to return and contribute to the state's development under the current Nitish Kumar-led NDA government, which has focused on infrastructure, education, and cultural revival. The viral photos quickly fuelled conjecture that the BJP might field Thakur from a seat in Darbhanga, leveraging her popularity as a cultural ambassador to appeal to young and rural voters in the Mithilanchal region.
Addressing the speculation head-on, Thakur recounted her recent visit to Bihar, where she engaged in conversations about the state's progress with Rai and Tawde. "I too have been seeing these things on TV. No official announcement has been made at this time. But let's see what happens. I would like to stand from my village constituency because I have an attachment to it," she said, her voice laced with nostalgia. When pressed on her political affiliations or endorsements, the singer demurred, emphasising national development over partisanship: "I don't want to comment on this right now... I am standing strong to contribute whatever possible towards the country's development." Her measured response has drawn parallels to other celebrities transitioning into politics, such as actor-turned-politician Hema Malini, amid Bihar's high-stakes electoral battle.
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Born in Benipatti, Madhubani district, Maithili Thakur rose to fame through her viral YouTube covers and performances on national stages, blending Hindustani classical with Bihar's vibrant folk traditions. Trained under her father and grandfather alongside her brothers, she mastered the harmonium and tabla, earning the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar from the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2021 for preserving regional heritage. The Election Commission of India designated her as Bihar's "State Icon" in 2022, recognising her role in promoting voter awareness and cultural pride. Her potential political debut aligns with a broader trend of the BJP courting artists to bolster its image in culturally rich states like Bihar, where caste dynamics and development narratives dominate.
The Election Commission announced the Bihar poll schedule on Monday, setting the stage for a fiercely contested election across 243 seats. Voting will occur in two phases—November 6 and November 11—with results declared on November 14. The NDA, comprising the BJP and Janata Dal (United), aims to retain power against a resurgent opposition led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress alliance. Thakur's entry, if realised, could inject fresh energy into the campaign, particularly in Darbhanga, a BJP stronghold. As discussions swirl in political circles, her decision remains a closely watched subplot in one of India's most pivotal state elections.
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