In a dramatic political twist that has sent shockwaves through Bihar, Maithili Thakur, the 25-year-old folk singing sensation with over 6.3 million Instagram followers and 5.13 million YouTube subscribers, has officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and will contest the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections from the Alinagar constituency in Darbhanga. Alongside her, former IPS officer Anand Mishra has been fielded from Buxar, marking the BJP's strategic push to combine youth appeal, cultural resonance, and administrative credibility in the high-stakes electoral battle.
The Making of a Political Star: Who is Maithili Thakur?
Born on July 25, 2000, in Benipatti, Madhubani district, Maithili Thakur grew up breathing music. Named after both goddess Sita and her mother tongue, she began learning Indian classical and Maithili folk music from her grandfather at the tender age of four. Her father, Ramesh Thakur, a music teacher himself, recognized her prodigious talent early and relocated the family from rural Bihar to Dwarka, New Delhi, to provide better opportunities.
Maithili's journey from village stages to national fame wasn't easy. She faced rejection six times in various reality show auditions, including Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs in 2011. But persistence paid off. In 2016, she won the "I Genius Young Singing Star" competition and launched her debut album "Ya Rabba". Her breakthrough came in 2017 when she became the runner-up on Colors TV's "Rising Star," losing by just two votes but gaining massive internet popularity.
Today, Maithili performs with her two younger brothers, Rishav (on tabla) and Ayachi (vocals and percussion), creating devotional and folk music that has captivated millions. The trio was appointed as Brand Ambassadors of Madhubani by the Election Commission in 2019. Her rendition of Ram bhajans earned praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, who shared her work on social media after the 2024 Ayodhya Ram temple inauguration.
The Money Behind the Music: Maithili's Net Worth
Maithili's financial success is as impressive as her artistic achievements. According to media reports, she charges between ₹5-7 lakh per live show and performs 10-15 shows monthly. Combined with social media earnings of approximately ₹50 lakh per month from her massive online following, her estimated monthly income ranges from ₹90 lakh to over ₹1 crore.
Her estimated net worth has crossed ₹10 crore, built primarily through live performances, YouTube revenue (with over 819 million views), Instagram collaborations, and brand endorsements. This financial independence makes her entry into politics particularly notable—she's not seeking power for economic gain.
Why Maithili Joined BJP: The Mithila Connection
On October 14, 2025, Maithili Thakur formally joined the BJP at a Milan Samaroh event in Patna, attended by Bihar BJP President Dilip Jaiswal. Her statement after joining was deeply emotional and ideological:
"I am very impressed with PM Modi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. Drawing inspiration from them, I am here to support them. I do not believe that joining a political party makes you a politician; I am here to serve society and take their ideology to each and every person. I am the daughter of Mithila, my soul resides in Mithila".
Maithili emphasized that her decision was driven not by political ambition but by a desire to serve her region and promote Maithili culture. "I want to serve Bihar. I have been doing this through folk songs, but if politics gives me another way to serve, I will do it through service to the region," she told NDTV.
Her meetings with BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde and Union Minister Nityanand Rai in early October had already signaled her political intentions. Tawde had welcomed her on social media as "Bihar's daughter," setting the stage for her formal induction.
Alinagar Vidhan Sabha: The Electoral Battleground
Alinagar Assembly constituency (number 81) is located in Darbhanga district and falls under the Darbhanga Lok Sabha constituency. Created after the 2008 delimitation, it comprises Alinagar, Tardih, Motipur, and Ghanshyampur community development blocks.
Constituency Demographics and Voter Profile
As of the 2020 elections, Alinagar had 2,75,559 registered voters (1,44,316 male and 1,31,243 female). The constituency is dominated by three key voter groups: Brahmins, Yadavs, and Muslims, who play a vital role in determining electoral outcomes.
The town of Alinagar itself is located 43 km east of Darbhanga district headquarters and serves as a block headquarters. The region speaks primarily Maithili, Hindi, and Urdu.
Recent Electoral History
Alinagar has witnessed intense political competition:
2020 Election: Mishri Lal Yadav of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) defeated RJD's Binod Mishra by just 3,101 votes (61,082 vs 57,981), marking the NDA's first victory in this constituency.
2015 Election: RJD's Abdul Bari Siddiqui won convincingly with 67,461 votes, defeating BJP's Mishri Lal Yadav by 13,460 votes.
2010 Election: Abdul Bari Siddiqui (RJD) defeated JD(U)'s Prabhakar Choudhary by 4,989 votes.
The constituency has alternated between RJD dominance and recent NDA breakthroughs, with margins often narrow—making it a crucial swing seat.
The Mishri Lal Yadav Controversy
In a dramatic development on October 11, 2025, sitting BJP MLA Mishri Lal Yadav resigned from the party, alleging disrespect and marginalization. Yadav, who had defected from VIP to BJP in 2022, claimed: "My self-respect has been hurt. Even as an MLA, I was not given due respect in the party".
His resignation came amid speculation that BJP would field Maithili Thakur instead of renominating him. Yadav hinted at joining the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), creating a potential direct face-off with Maithili if he contests as an RJD or independent candidate.
BJP's Strategic Masterstroke: Youth, Culture, and Electoral Calculus
Maithili Thakur's candidature from Alinagar represents a calculated political gambit by the BJP. Her nomination offers multiple strategic advantages:
Youth Appeal: At 25, Maithili connects with Bihar's 14 lakh first-time voters and the larger youth demographic that dominates social media.
Cultural Ambassador: Her deep-rooted association with Maithili folk traditions and devotional music resonates with cultural pride in the Mithilanchal region.
Social Media Powerhouse: With 6.3 million Instagram followers and 5.13 million YouTube subscribers, Maithili brings unprecedented digital outreach to a constituency-level campaign.
Prime Minister's Endorsement: PM Modi's public appreciation of her bhajans in 2024 provides implicit validation of her work and character.
Gender Representation: Her candidacy strengthens BJP's women candidate slate, which also includes shooter Shreyasi Singh.
Regional Roots: Being born in neighboring Benipatti (Madhubani district) and having her grandmother's village in the Mithilanchal region, Maithili has authentic local connections.
BJP's second candidate list, announced on October 15, strategically combined new faces with experienced politicians. The party fielded nine new candidates out of 12, signaling a generational shift.
Anand Mishra: From 'Assam's Singham' to Bihar Politics
Anand Mishra, the second major name in BJP's second list, brings a contrasting but equally compelling profile. A 2011-batch IPS officer from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, Mishra earned the nickname "Assam's Singham" for his fearless counter-insurgency operations and anti-corruption drives.
The IPS Journey
Before joining IPS, Mishra served in the West Bengal Civil Service from 2005 to 2011. After clearing UPSC CSE 2010 with AIR 225, he was posted to Meghalaya Police, where he led Operation Hill Storm I & II, instrumental in ending insurgency in Garo Hills.
Later transferred to Assam, he served as SP in multiple districts including Charaideo, Dhubri, Nagaon, and Lakhimpur, heading the Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Bureau and Bureau of Investigation. His service earned him prestigious awards including:
Police Medal for Gallantry
Chief Minister's Medal for Outstanding Services (Assam)
Police Antarik Suraksha Seva Padak (Ministry of Home Affairs)
Political Entry and Controversies
Mishra resigned from IPS on January 29, 2024, to pursue politics and work on "bigger projects" for Bihar's development. He contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from his hometown Buxar as an independent candidate, securing 47,409 votes (4.42% vote share) and finishing fourth.
His performance was significant: analysts believe he split BJP's vote bank, contributing to RJD's Sudhakar Singh defeating BJP's Mithilesh Tiwari by just 30,091 votes. Mishra's 47,000+ votes came largely from BJP's traditional supporters, demonstrating his appeal to the party's base.
The Jan Suraaj Detour
After the Lok Sabha loss, Mishra briefly joined Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party as Youth Wing President in 2024. However, by June 2025, he resigned from the post, citing limited influence and differences with the party's direction.
Prashant Kishor later clarified that Mishra "wants to do something for himself" and left the youth president position, though he hadn't formally quit the party at that time. By October 2025, Mishra formally joined BJP, bringing his law enforcement credentials and youth connect to the NDA camp.
Buxar Constituency Challenge
Buxar, Mishra's assigned constituency, is traditionally a BJP stronghold that the party has won six out of the last seven Lok Sabha elections. His candidacy aims to reclaim the seat after the 2024 loss and leverage his local roots and administrative reputation.
Alinagar Constituency: Understanding the Trend Breakdown
The trend breakdown for Alinagar reveals fascinating electoral dynamics that explain why BJP has fielded a cultural icon like Maithili Thakur:
Vote Share Analysis
Looking at recent elections, Alinagar demonstrates volatility and narrow margins:
2020: VIP (38.62%) defeated RJD (36.66%) by just 3,101 votes—a margin of 1.96%
2015: RJD (48.29%) defeated BJP (38.66%) by 13,460 votes—a margin of 9.63%
2010: RJD (37.23%) defeated JD(U) (32.33%) by 4,989 votes—a margin of 4.9%
Caste Arithmetic
Alinagar's electoral outcome hinges on caste coalitions:
Yadav Vote: Approximately 25-30% of the electorate, traditionally RJD's core base. Mishri Lal Yadav's 2020 victory as a Yadav candidate on VIP ticket broke this pattern.
Muslim Vote: Around 25-30% of voters, historically backing RJD and secular parties.
Brahmin Vote: Comprising 15-20%, often supporting BJP but swing voters in close contests.
Other OBC and SC/ST: The remaining 25-30% are crucial swing voters who determine outcomes.
Maithili's Advantage
Maithili Thakur's candidacy disrupts traditional caste calculations through:
Cross-caste appeal: Her cultural work transcends caste barriers
Youth mobilization: Her massive social media following energizes first-time voters
Women voters: Her female candidacy may attract higher women turnout
Mithila pride: Regional cultural identity that unites diverse groups
PM Modi's halo effect: His endorsement of her work provides credibility
RJD's Challenge
The opposition faces difficult choices:
If Mishri Lal Yadav contests on RJD ticket, he splits the Yadav vote between himself and whatever the dynamics
If RJD fields someone else, they lose the incumbent advantage
Maithili's celebrity status makes negative campaigning risky—it could backfire
Bihar Election 2025: The Larger Context
The Bihar Assembly elections are scheduled in two phases on November 6 and 11, 2025, with counting on November 14. The state has 7.43 crore voters, including 14 lakh first-time voters.
NDA Alliance
BJP: 101 seats (83 declared as of October 15)
JD(U): 101 seats (57 declared)
LJP (Ram Vilas): 29 seats
Hindustani Awam Morcha: 6 seats
Rashtriya Lok Morcha: 6 seats
INDIA Bloc
RJD: Led by Tejashwi Yadav (seat sharing not finalized)
Congress: Key ally
CPI(ML): Left partner
CPI and CPM: Supporting parties
Vikassheel Insaan Party: Joined Mahagathbandhan
Other Players
Jan Suraaj Party: Contesting all 243 seats under Prashant Kishor (116 declared)
AIMIM: Contesting 100 seats (32 declared)
The Controversies: Not All Smooth Sailing
Maithili's political entry hasn't been controversy-free. Reports emerged in early October that villagers from her region claimed she once demanded ₹5 lakh for a Chhath Puja program performance and refused when they couldn't pay. While her father denied these allegations, the incident reflects the scrutiny that comes with political life.
Additionally, some BJP women workers in Darbhanga expressed reservations, stating: "Maithili Thakur is a good singer, but she doesn't understand politics". This skepticism reflects tensions between traditional party workers and celebrity inductees—a common friction in Indian politics.
What This Means for Bihar's Political Future
The fielding of Maithili Thakur and Anand Mishra represents a paradigm shift in Bihar politics:
Celebrity Politics Goes Mainstream: Maithili's candidacy signals that social media influence and cultural capital now rival traditional political networks.
Youth Empowerment: At 25 and 42 respectively, both candidates embody generational change that contrasts with Bihar's aging political leadership.
Administrative Credibility: Anand Mishra's IPS background appeals to voters frustrated with law-and-order issues and corruption.
Regional Identity Politics: Maithili's Mithilanchal roots and cultural ambassadorship tap into sub-regional pride within Bihar.
Women's Representation: Maithili's candidacy, alongside Shreyasi Singh and others, strengthens women's political presence.
The Road Ahead: November 6 Showdown
Alinagar will vote in the first phase on November 6, 2025. The constituency will witness:
Maithili Thakur (BJP): Youth icon with massive social media following
Likely RJD candidate: Possibly Mishri Lal Yadav or another strong OBC leader
Other parties: Jan Suraaj, AIMIM, and independents may split votes
With only 158,159 votes polled in 2020 out of 275,559 registered voters (57.4% turnout), increasing voter participation through Maithili's star power could be BJP's winning formula.
Conclusion: When Melody Meets Politics
Maithili Thakur's journey from a small village in Madhubani to becoming BJP's Alinagar candidate epitomizes modern India's evolving political landscape. Her 6.3 million Instagram followers, ₹10 crore net worth, and PM Modi's endorsement create a formidable electoral package that transcends traditional caste and party calculations.
Alongside Anand Mishra's administrative credentials in Buxar, BJP's second candidate list reveals a strategic pivot toward youth, celebrity, and competence over conventional political machinery. Whether this gambit succeeds depends on Bihar voters' willingness to embrace change over continuity.
As Maithili herself said: "I am the daughter of Mithila, my soul resides in Mithila." On November 6, the people of Alinagar will decide if that soul belongs in the Bihar Legislative Assembly.
The stakes are high, the margins are narrow, and the melody of change is playing across Bihar's political stage.
