Bihar elections: Maithili Thakur sparks rumour over political debut after meeting BJP leaders; here’s what she said

Maithili Thakur

Ahead of the Assembly polls in Bihar, folk singer Maithili Thakur met BJP election in-charge Vinod Tawde and union minister Nityanand Rai, sparking speculations over whether she could contest the upcoming election on a BJP ticket.

The folk singer, responding to the speculations, said she would like to stand from her village constituency.

The rumours kicked off after Tawde took to X to share photos of the meeting with Maithili Thakur. Addressing the speculations, Thakur said that she too had been seeing the reports 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. I would like to stand from my village constituency because I have an attachment to it,” she was quoted as saying by CNN-News18.

Assembly polls in Bihar is set to held in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with the results to be declared on November 14.

On her preferred Assembly constituency, she told news agency PTI, "There hasn't been any official announcement yet, but I would like to go to my village area because I have a special connection with it."

"Starting from there will also give me a chance to learn. Meeting people, talking to them...I will understand more if I start from my village," she added.

Responding to another question over the Assembly polls, the 25-year-old folk singer said she is ready to contribute towards the development of the country in every possible way.

On Sunday, Tawde took to X to share pictures of the meeting with Maithili Thakur, saying her family had left Bihar in 1995 during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s rule.

“The family that left Bihar when Lalu Raj came to power in Bihar in the year 1995, the daughter of that family, the renowned singer Maithili Thakur ji, wants to return to Bihar, seeing the pace of changing Bihar. Today, Union Minister of State for Home @nityanandraibjp ji and I urged her that for the people of Bihar and for the development of Bihar, her contribution is expected by the common man of Bihar and that she fulfil their expectations. Best wishes to Bihar’s daughter Maithili Thakur ji!" the post read.

Born at Benipatti in Bihar's Madhubani district to a Maithili musician father, Thakur made a mark in music at the age of 11 in 2011 and has been active in the field ever since.

BJP leader and former minister Vinod Narayan Jha currently represents Benipatti in the Bihar assembly.