In a significant political development in Bihar, Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Chhoti Kumari has taken a commanding lead of over 2,000 votes against her rival, popular Bhojpuri singer and actor Khesari Lal Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, in the Chapra assembly constituency. The high-stakes battle for this Saran district seat has captured statewide attention as counting continues for the 2025 Bihar elections.
The Political Battle Unfolding in Chapra
As of 2 PM on November 14, 2025, Election Commission trends show a tight contest with BJP's Chhoti Kumari maintaining a steady lead over RJD's Khesari Lal Yadav. The Bhojpuri celebrity, whose real name is Shatrughan Yadav, entered the political arena hoping to leverage his mass appeal, but appears to be facing strong resistance from the BJP's grassroots worker.
The Chapra constituency has remained a BJP stronghold since 2010, and the party's decision to field Chhoti Kumari instead of sitting MLA C.N. Gupta, who also served as RSS sanghchalak of Saran, indicates a strategic shift in their electoral calculations.
Who is Chhoti Kumari? The BJP's Surprise Performer
Chhoti Kumari represents the new face of BJP's grassroots leadership in Bihar. Despite having completed only her 12th standard education, she has climbed the political ladder through dedicated organizational work. She currently serves as the Zila Parishad Chairperson of the Chhapra Assembly constituency in Saran, giving her substantial local administrative experience.
Her political career is further strengthened by her family's deep connections with the BJP. Her husband, Dharmendra Sah, holds the position of District General Secretary of the party, creating a powerful political partnership at the local level.
Chhoti Kumari belongs to the Vaishya community, which has emerged as a crucial voting bloc in the constituency. Her financial declaration reveals assets worth approximately ₹1.4 crore, reflecting her established status within the community.
Caste Dynamics: The Deciding Factor in Chapra
The Chapra assembly constituency presents a fascinating case study of Bihar's complex caste politics. Historically, elections since 1967 have largely alternated between Rajput and Yadav candidates from various parties, reflecting the deep-rooted community loyalties that characterize Bihar's political landscape.
Post-delimitation, the Vaishya community comprising 10-12% of voters (approximately 65,000 out of a total electorate of 2.89 lakh) has emerged as a decisive swing bloc alongside Yadavs and Rajputs. This makes the seat a microcosm of Bihar's intricate social engineering dynamics.
Other significant communities include Muslims and OBCs, primarily from the Koeri and Kurmi castes, making caste composition the ultimate determinant in electoral outcomes. The BJP's strategic fielding of a Vaishya candidate appears to be paying dividends in this carefully calculated political move.
Chapra holds significant political weight as one of the six assembly segments of the Saran Lok Sabha constituency, a traditional battleground for major parties like the BJP and RJD. The outcome here plays a pivotal role in influencing parliamentary outcomes and testing the famous NDA-Mahagathbandhan rivalry that defines Bihar politics.
As counting progresses, all eyes remain fixed on Chapra where Chhoti Kumari's surprising performance against a celebrity candidate could signal broader political trends in the state.
