Chapra, Bihar: Bhojpuri superstar Khesari Lal Yadav faced defeat in his electoral debut in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections from Chapra constituency. Contesting on a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) ticket, Yadav was defeated by Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Chhoti Kumari.
Yadav, whose real name is Shatrughan Kumar Yadav, secured 79,245 votes, while Kumari won with 86,845 votes. This marks a significant moment in the political landscape of Bihar, as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a historic mandate by winning over 200 seats in the 243-seat Assembly.
Following the results, Yadav addressed his supporters and the media, stating, "People are very nice. They are never bad... I will always stay among the people... I will say something when I have something to say. I have faith in god and no one else". He added that the people's decision is paramount. His reaction quickly went viral on social media.
The Chapra constituency has been a BJP stronghold, with the party winning in 2010, 2015 and 2020. This election saw the BJP fielding Chhoti Kumari, the Zila Parishad chairperson, after dropping its two-time MLA C.N. Gupta. Kumari's victory is attributed to her strong grassroots connection and the BJP's strategic campaigning.
Khesari Lal Yadav, a well-known figure in the Bhojpuri entertainment industry, joined the RJD in October 2025, along with his wife, Chanda. The RJD hoped to leverage his popularity to attract young voters. Yadav has acted in nearly 100 films and sung over 5,000 songs. He has also appeared in Hindi, Awadhi, and Haryanvi languages. Before entering politics, Yadav participated in the reality show Bigg Boss 13 in 2019.
Yadav's journey to stardom began from humble beginnings. His father, Mangaru Yadav, worked as a street vendor and security guard. In his childhood, Yadav grazed cattle and sold milk. Later, his family moved to Delhi, where they sold litti-chokha. He started his career as a theatre artist, singing in Ramayana and Mahabharata performances.
According to his election affidavit, Yadav has assets worth over ₹24 crore, including gold jewellery worth ₹35 lakh and a Land Rover Defender valued at ₹3 crore. He also declared movable assets worth Rs 16.89 crore and immovable properties worth Rs 7.91 crore. His wife, Chanda Yadav, possesses movable assets worth Rs 90.02 lakh and immovable property valued at Rs 6.49 crore.
Political analysts suggest that Yadav's loss could be attributed to a lack of strong local issues, a perceived lack of experience in grassroots politics, and the division of votes. While Yadav's popularity drew large crowds, it may not have translated into votes from all sections of the electorate.
Despite the defeat, Yadav expressed his commitment to continue serving the people. "Will keep…I will always stay among the people," he affirmed. He also shared a poem, emphasizing that he is not afraid of defeat and will continue to raise issues concerning the public. It remains to be seen what steps Khesari Lal Yadav will take in his political journey.
