The Bihar Assembly elections saw a resounding victory for the NDA, but the performance of celebrity candidates presented a mixed bag. While some stars shone brightly, others failed to strike a chord with the voters.
Maithili Thakur, the young folk singer who contested on a BJP ticket from Alinagar, emerged as a frontrunner. The 25-year-old singer is set to become the youngest MLA in the state. Maithili Thakur secured a historic win for the BJP in Alinagar, marking the party's first victory in the constituency since its formation in 2008. Known for her soulful renditions of traditional Bihari folk and devotional songs, Thakur connected with voters through her grassroots appeal and strong social media presence. After 11 rounds of counting, Maithili was leading with 38,832 votes, with a lead of 8,551 votes over RJD's Binod Mishra. Her win is not just a personal triumph but also a cultural statement for the BJP, as it attempts to leverage Mithila's cultural pride into political capital. Thakur has promised to rename her constituency Sitanagar.
In contrast, Khesari Lal Yadav, the Bhojpuri superstar who contested from Chapra on an RJD ticket, struggled to make an impact. Despite his popularity and significant assets, Yadav trailed behind BJP's Chhoti Kumari by over 3,000 votes. Khesari's campaign was marked by frequent verbal altercations with BJP campaigners and controversies surrounding his remarks on the Ram Mandir. After the seventh round of counting, Khesari Lal Yadav trailed by 2,592 votes. The Chapra Assembly seat, traditionally an RJD stronghold, became a closely watched contest due to Khesari's presence, but he failed to capitalize on his star power.
Ritesh Pandey, another Bhojpuri singer who contested from Kargahar on a Jan Suraaj Party ticket, also faced a significant setback. Initial trends placed him in fourth position, trailing far behind Janata Dal's Bashisth Singh. Pandey's prospects of winning diminished rapidly as the counting progressed, with the Janata Dal candidate leading by over 6,000 seats. Ritesh Ranjan had only managed to secure just over 2,700 votes.
The Bihar election results underscore the complexities of translating celebrity appeal into electoral success. While Maithili Thakur successfully leveraged her cultural influence and connected with voters on a personal level, Khesari Lal Yadav and Ritesh Pandey struggled to overcome political challenges and connect with the electorate. The NDA's overall victory reflects its continued dominance in the state, but the varying fortunes of celebrity candidates highlight the importance of grassroots connections, political messaging, and strategic alliances in the electoral arena.
