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The Bihar assembly election is their stage and they will now be known as more than singers or actors. From celebrated actor Khesari Lal Yadav to folk singer Maithili Thakur – both of whom will feature in the first phase of the election on November 6 – these Bhojpuri celebrities are already prominent in their own right but they will be adding a distinctive sparkle to the political arena with their star power. Khesari Lal Yadav One of the most popular faces in Bhojpuri cinema and music, Shatrughan Kumar Yadav aka Khesari Lal Yadav is making his electoral debut on an RJD ticket from Chapra in Saran district. He will go up against the BJP’s Chhoti Kumari, who has the patronage of Bihar deputy chief minister Samrat Choudhary. The RJD, however, is hopeful that Khesari Lal’s wide fan base and popular appeal, especially among youth and migrant workers, will help woo voters in this significant district. He drew a rousing reception upon his nomination, with supporters purportedly pouring milk on him and weighing him with coins. Another factor that may work in his favour is his humble beginnings as a street vendor selling litti-chokha in Delhi. The Bhojpuri artiste, however, has faced charges of “vulgarity” with his opponents seeking to discredit him by describing him as a “dancer”. His songs have also been called “ashleel” but he has managed to counter all of this by arguing that his career is separate from his political beliefs. Chapra goes to polls in the first phase and has historically been dominated by Yadavs and Rajputs. It has been represented by RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav four times between 1977 and 2009. Maithili Thakur Renowned for her contribution to folk music, Maithili Thakur made some more noise as she was chosen by the BJP as a candidate for the Bihar polls. One of the youngest candidates in the electoral battle at 25, Thakur is emerging as a significant face and will contest from Alinagar constituency in Darbhanga district, located in the Mithilanchal region. She will face the RJD’s Binod Mishra, who was the runner-up in the 2020 polls. She is known for successfully bringing folk music and traditional stories of Mithilanchal to global audiences. This will be her political debut with her candidacy making Alinagar one of the key constituencies to watch in the first phase. The seat was an RJD stronghold until the previous election. Other candidates, who are strictly not from the political sphere, include former IPS officer Anand Mishra and renowned mathematician KC Sinha. Mishra (44), who is a 2011-batch Assam-Meghalaya cadre officer, is contesting from Buxar on a BJP ticket. This is not a poll debut for him as he fought the 2024 Lok Sabha election as an Independent from Buxar, securing nearly 50,000 votes and strong youth support. Sinha, who has authored over 70 books, was named in Prashant Kishor-led Jan Suraaj Party’s first list. He is contesting from Patna’s Kumhrar, which is a BJP bastion.
