Folk Singer Maithili Thakur Leads in Bihar Assembly Elections: Balancing Music and Political Ambitions

Maithili Thakur entered politics as the BJP candidate from the Alinagar constituency in Darbhanga.

New Delhi:

It is a moment of celebration for Maithili Thakur, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from the Alinagar constituency in Darbhanga as early trends show her leading. The folk singer has secured over 14,000 votes and maintains a lead of more than 4,500 votes over Rashtriya Janata Dal's Binod Mishra, as of 11 am.

While monitoring the early election trends, Maithili Thakur joined NDTV's special coverage on the Bihar Assembly Election results and requested her favorite breakfast - Litti Chokha - be sent to her.

"Please pack some Litti Chokha and send it for me," she requested during her conversation with NDTV's Editor-in-Chief Rahul Kanwal.

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"Dahi chooda (or dahi chura) is the traditional breakfast of Mithila but I don't consume curd and milk," Thakur explained, revealing her lactose intolerance. "My brothers eat Litti Chokha every day before leaving home. Sattu (powder made from black chana) is also consumed for breakfast," she added.

When asked about a song on her mind, Thakur performed a celebratory tune: "Badhiya baaje angne me….."

At 25, Thakur is contesting elections for the first time and appears to have established a strong presence in Alinagar. Reflecting on her experience as a first-time candidate in the lead, Thakur said, "It is significant for me to be under the guidance and leadership of people who proudly identify as Biharis, both in India and abroad. I have received blessings from Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Modi. I am closely monitoring the trends."

Politics is often viewed as complicated and challenging. When asked if she was prepared for political complexities, Thakur shared her month-long experience of campaigning and participation.

"I encountered substantial criticism. Many warned me against entering politics. However, I aim to demonstrate that change is possible. The initial four days of campaigning were extremely difficult. I had never experienced such negativity. My father protected me throughout my life, encouraging me to focus solely on music and disregard both supporters and critics," she explained.

However, when Thakur decided to contest elections, her father stepped back, allowing her to experience reality unfiltered.

"I shed tears during the first few days because people attempted to portray me as unintelligent, childish, and merely decorative. While the beginning was challenging, I still enjoyed the 17-18-hour campaign days. I intend to silence critics with my performance over the next five years," she added.

The young politician believes that "sensitive individuals should enter politics."

Thakur plans to maintain a balance between her musical career and political responsibilities.

"Music is integrated into my lifestyle. I don't need to abandon music to succeed in life."

In an earlier October interview with NDTV, Thakur had expressed her desire to "serve Bihar."

"I've been doing this through folk songs, which is why I didn't want to leave for abroad."

"I want to promote my region's culture, and if politics provides this opportunity, nothing could be more valuable. I don't want to simply engage in politics - I want to serve my region," she had stated.

Thakur wasn't interested in politics until recently. Her interest developed after she began following her "favorite leader," Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"PM Modi inspires young people. I'm fortunate to work under his leadership," she said.