Bhojpuri Stars at the Ballot Box: Entertainment Icons Face Mixed Fortunes in Bihar Elections

The Bihar election witnessed several entertainment personalities stepping into the political arena, including a renowned Bhojpuri superstar, a star's wife, a popular spiritual singer with an 11 million-strong following, and a versatile Bhojpuri performer. As the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a landslide victory, these celebrities experienced varying levels of electoral success.

Khesari Lal Yadav, a major sensation in Bhojpuri cinema, contested from Chhapra representing the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). By mid-afternoon, he was trailing BJP's Chhoti Kumari by approximately 20,000 votes. The 39-year-old star had stirred controversy before the elections with his statements regarding the Ram Mandir, arguing that while religious sites are important for faith, education remains crucial for national development.

Yadav also faced criticism regarding the content of his songs, which some labeled vulgar. He defended himself by questioning whether his music could be blamed for infrastructure problems, educational system failures, or healthcare deficiencies in Chhapra. Despite electoral challenges, his workout videos have garnered significant positive attention online.

Ritesh Pandey, who holds the distinction of creating 2020's most-viewed Bhojpuri song "Hello Kaun" with one billion YouTube views, faced disappointing election results. The multitalented performer, who has worked with celebrated actors like Rani Chatterjee and Amrapali Dubey, was representing Jan Suraaj Party from Kargahar constituency. By afternoon, he had fallen to fourth position, trailing Janata Dal (United)'s Bashisth Singh by over 36,000 votes.

Maithili Thakur, affectionately known as 'Bihar's daughter,' demonstrated remarkable electoral success. The spiritual singer with more than 11 million social media followers was heading toward a convincing victory on a BJP ticket from Alinagar. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had praised Thakur for her rendition about Maa Shabri from the Ramayan. She was also recognized as 'Cultural Ambassador of The Year' at the inaugural National Creators Awards, a government initiative celebrating storytellers representing a "confident, assertive New India."

Jyoti Singh, wife of Bhojpuri superstar Pawan Singh, contested as an Independent candidate from the high-profile Karakat constituency, facing competition from JDU's Mahabali Singh, CPI(ML)'s Arun Singh, and Jan Suraaj's Yogendra Singh. Leading up to the election, she had publicly accused her husband of infidelity, with the couple engaging in an open dispute regarding candidacy. By mid-afternoon, Jyoti Singh was positioned third, trailing Mahabali Singh by more than 32,000 votes.