Folk singer Maithili Thakur joins BJP, says 'contesting elections not my goal'

Maithili Thakur

Folk singer Maithili Thakur joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Patna on Tuesday, but said that she has no goal of contesting the elections.

"I will do whatever I am told to do. Contesting the election is not my goal, I will do whatever the party tells me to," she said, adding, "I have seen the developments brought about by NDA in Bihar..."

VIDEO | Patna: Folk Singer Maithili Thakur (@maithilithakur) sings Chhath song after joining BJP.#BiharElection2025#BiharElectionsWithPTI (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/2ezWpGtnag

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 14, 2025

Maithili Thakur is a renowned playback singer who is famous for her soulful renditions of Indian classical and folk music. Born in Benipatti, Madhubani district of Bihar, she comes from a family of musicians. Her parents, Ramesh Thakur and Bharti Thakur, are Maithili musicians and music teachers based in Delhi.

Maithili began learning music from her grandfather at the age of four and started performing at jagrans and local musical gatherings by the time she was ten years old. Along with her brothers, Rishav and Ayachi, she trained under her grandfather and father in Maithili folk, Hindustani classical music, as well as instruments like the harmonium and tabla.

In 2011, Maithili became a national topic of discussion after participating in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champs on Zee TV, and later in Indian Idol Junior. She went on to win the iGenius Young Singing Star competition in 2016, following which she released her debut album, Ya Rabba, under Universal Music.

She continued to gain a lot of fame as her works of traditional Maithili, Bhojpuri, and Hindi folk songs went viral on social media, thus earning her widespread admiration and opportunities to perform on international stages.

Maithili received the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar from the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2021. She also got the Cultural Ambassador of the Year Award by the Prime Minister of India at the inaugural National Creators Award in 2024.

Further, the Election Commission of India also acknowledged her influence and popularity by naming her the State Icon of Bihar.