The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has electrified the Bihar Assembly election campaign by naming celebrated folk singer Maithili Thakur as a candidate from Alinagar in its second list of 12 contenders, released on Wednesday. The announcement, made just before the November 6 and 11 polls, underscores the party’s strategy to harness cultural influence to sway voters in the 243-seat legislature race. With vote counting set for November 14, Thakur’s debut, alongside other key picks, signals a dynamic push by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to solidify its grip on Bihar.

The second list features notable names like Ram Chandra Prasad (Hayaghat), Vinay Kumar Singh (Sonepur), former IPS officer Anand Mishra (Buxar), and Siyaram Singh (Barh), alongside Birendra Kumar (Rosera), Mahesh Paswan (Agiaon), Ranjan Kumar (Muzaffarpur), and Subhash Singh (Gopalganj). This follows Tuesday’s release of 71 candidates, including Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary (Tarapur) and Vijay Kumar Sinha (Lakhisarai), bringing the BJP’s total to 83 of its allocated 101 seats under the NDA’s seat-sharing pact, which also includes JD(U) (101 seats), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) (29 seats), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) (6 seats), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (6 seats).

Thakur, a 25-year-old Padma Shri recipient known for her soulful renditions of Maithili and Bhojpuri folk songs, adds a unique dimension to the BJP’s campaign in Alinagar, a constituency with significant cultural and demographic diversity. The party’s decision to field her reflects a calculated move to appeal to younger voters and leverage her widespread popularity. The list balances experienced politicians with fresh faces, aiming to consolidate the BJP’s base while countering rivals like the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan and Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj, which has already named 116 candidates emphasizing caste-based representation.

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With the Election Commission reporting seizures of ₹33.97 crore in cash, liquor, drugs, and freebies since the October 6 poll announcement, the electoral landscape remains intense. The BJP’s campaign, bolstered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s planned interactions with booth-level workers under the ‘Mera Booth Sabse Majboot’ initiative, is gearing up for a high-stakes battle. As Bihar braces for a multi-cornered contest shaped by caste dynamics and development promises, Thakur’s candidacy has sparked widespread buzz, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown in this pivotal election.

Also Read: From Folk Star to Political Hope: Maithili Thakur Joins BJP for Bihar Polls