In a dramatic turn of events during the Bihar Assembly Election 2025, folk singer Maithili Thakur emerged as the clear winner from the Alinagar constituency, while fellow Bhojpuri celebrities Khesari Lal Yadav and Ritesh Pandey faced disappointing defeats in their respective constituencies.
Maithili Thakur's Spectacular Victory
According to the latest trends from the Election Commission, Maithili Thakur, contesting on a Bharatiya Janata Party ticket from Alinagar, secured an impressive 28,104 votes, establishing a commanding lead of 6,793 votes over her nearest rivals. The young folk sensation managed to overshadow candidates from both the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Jan Suraaj Party in what turned out to be a one-sided contest.
Thakur's political journey began with some controversy when she mentioned in an interview that Alinagar would be transformed into Adarshnagar, drawing criticism from opposition parties. However, this early controversy did little to dampen her electoral prospects as voting day approached.
Bhojpuri Stars Face Electoral Setback
While Maithili Thakur celebrated her success, other Bhojpuri celebrities entering the political arena encountered unexpected setbacks. Khesari Lal Yadav, contesting from the Chapra seat on an RJD ticket, found himself trailing by over 3,000 votes according to Election Commission data.
The popular singer, also known as Shatrughan Yadav, managed to secure just over 9,500 votes, while BJP candidate Chhoti Kumari took the lead with more than 12,000 votes. Other candidates including Jan Suraaj Party's Jai Prakash Singh and an independent candidate also trailed significantly with 550 and 444 votes respectively.
Ritesh Pandey's Disappointing Performance
Another Bhojpuri star, Ritesh Ranjan Pandey, who entered politics with high hopes through Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party, faced a crushing defeat in the Kargahar constituency. Election Commission trends showed Pandey securing only about 2,700 votes, trailing the leading candidate by over 15,000 votes.
Janata Dal candidate Bashisth Singh dominated the Kargahar seat with over 17,000 votes, while Congress candidate Santosh Kumar Mishra emerged as the runner-up with 11,130 votes. Pandey's poor performance marked a significant setback for the newcomer party and highlighted the challenges celebrities face when transitioning to politics.
The election results clearly demonstrate that while celebrity status might generate initial attention, it doesn't always translate into electoral success. Maithili Thakur's victory stands as an exception in what otherwise proved to be a challenging election for entertainment industry figures trying their luck in Bihar politics.
