'Dhritarashtra, Duryodhana': Bihar MLA Maithili Thakur’s epic swipe at Lalu-Tejashwi | Watch

• Maithili Thakur likens pre-2005 Bihar to Mahabharata's Hastinapur
• She credited Nitish Kumar for improved law and order in Bihar
• Thakur praised the bicycle scheme for boosting girls' education

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In a debut parliamentary speech laced with literary flair and political sharpness, BJP MLA Maithili Thakur on Friday launched a blistering attack on the RJD, invoking the Mahabharata to draw a stark contrast between Bihar's past and its present.

The 25-year-old singer, who represents the Darbhanga constituency, did not take names initially but crafted an elaborate allegory comparing the state before 2005 to the rule of Dhritarashtra, the blind king of Hastinapur. She described a ruler so consumed by affection for his son, Duryodhana, that he remained wilfully ignorant of the suffering in his kingdom.

From people’s trust to people’s voice — my maiden speech today. pic.twitter.com/soaSovb4XC

— Maithili Thakur (@maithilithakur) February 20, 2026

In an apparent reference to RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his son, former deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav, Thakur remarked that whenever she thinks about that time, she remembers Dhritarashtra's Hastinapur. She asserted that the king was not worried about Hastinapur, only about his Duryodhana.

Marking her first intervention in the state legislature since winning the seat, Thakur characterised the pre-2005 era as one of "jungle raj," asserting that Bihar had suffered severe setbacks in education and public safety under the previous regime. She credited Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with ushering in a transformative shift.

The MLA stated that when Nitish Kumar assumed power, good governance arrived. She offered a personal testament to the improved law and order situation by recounting a time when fear dictated daily life, noting that people used to warn others against venturing out after evening hours.

She recalled that people used to say one should not get out of the car after 5 pm as it was dangerous. Contrasting that with the present, Thakur pointed out that today, as an artist and MLA, she leaves Darbhanga at 3 am and reaches her home in Patna safely. She attributed this change to improved law and order.

Thakur, who rose to fame as a playback singer, also highlighted the impact of the state government's bicycle scheme for schoolgirls, a flagship programme often associated with the Chief Minister. She noted how the initiative had broken educational barriers in rural areas.

She observed that in her own village, where there was barely any discussion about schooling, girls began attending school after the cycle programme started. She added that though the opposition mocked it initially, today it stands as a model for the country.

The speech marks a significant political entry for Thakur, blending cultural references with a staunch defence of the National Democratic Alliance  government's record in Bihar.