From Stage to State: Maithili Thakur's Political Ascent
In a remarkable turn of events, 25-year-old Maithili Thakur, the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from the Alinagar constituency in the Bihar Assembly Elections, is leading the trends after eight rounds of counting. The young politician, who transitioned from a celebrated classical singing career to the political arena, is currently leading over the Rashtriya Janata Dal's Binod Mishra by 6,793 votes.
The Journey to Candidacy
Speculations about Thakur's political entry began swirling in early October when she met with senior BJP leaders Vinod Tawde and Nityanand Rai. At the time, she addressed the rumors with cautious optimism, stating, "I too have been seeing these things on TV. I recently visited Bihar and had the opportunity to meet Nityanand Rai, as well as Vinod Tawde. We had a discussion about Bihar's future. 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."
These speculations turned into reality when the BJP officially announced its candidates, confirming Thakur would indeed contest the polls from Alinagar, fulfilling her wish to represent her home constituency.
Victory in the Making
Expressing her elation at the unfolding results in an interview with ANI on Friday, Thakur shared, "I am very happy that people have shown trust in me. This is not just my victory. This victory is theirs too... The work that Nitish Kumar has done for women has helped me a lot in my journey. People have a lot of love for PM Modi, and they have a lot of faith in the NDA. It (Alinagar) will become Sitanagar for sure..."
Five Things to Know About Maithili Thakur
1. Classical Music Roots
Thakur is a trained Indian classical singer who received her initial musical training from her grandfather. Recognizing her exceptional talent, her father moved the entire family from Bihar to New Delhi's Dwarka area to provide her with better opportunities.
2. Television Fame
Her first taste of fame came through appearances on popular television music competitions. She first captured public attention on Zee TV's Little Champs and later showcased her talent on Indian Idol Junior.
3. Musical Achievements
Thakur's debut album, Ya Rabba, was launched by Universal Music after she won the 2016 singing competition "I Genius Young Singing Star." Her career gained further momentum when she and her brothers began uploading performance videos on digital platforms like YouTube and Facebook, leading to performances at major events across India and internationally.
4. Electoral Recognition
In 2019, the Election Commission recognized her influence and appointed her and her brothers as brand ambassadors of Madhubani, highlighting her growing stature beyond the entertainment sphere.
5. Award-Winning Talent
Thakur has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including the 2021 Lokmat Sur Jytosna National Music Award, presented by then Information & Broadcast Minister Anurag Thakur. In a significant honor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi awarded her the Cultural Ambassador of the Year Award in March 2024. She also received the National Human Rights and Crime Control Bureau's India Pride Award in 2022.
Bihar Assembly Elections: The Larger Picture
As of 1 PM counting trends, the political landscape in Bihar shows the BJP emerging as the single largest party in the state assembly, leading in 90 seats. The Janata Dal (United) follows closely, leading in 80 seats, while their NDA ally, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), is ahead in 20 seats.
On the opposition front, the RJD is leading in 29 seats, while the Congress is ahead in only five constituencies. The CPI(ML)(L) is leading in four seats, and Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM is also ahead in five constituencies. Notably, Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party has not been able to secure a lead in any seat across the state.
The trends indicate a strong performance by the NDA alliance, with the combined leads of BJP, JD(U), and LJP(RV) comfortably crossing the majority mark in the 243-member Bihar Assembly.
