Darbhanga: Folk singer Maithili Thakur, known for her soulful voice and dedication to Maithili folk music, is set to begin a new journey — this time in politics. She will join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday, ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections. The venue for her joining ceremony is expected to be either in Delhi or Patna, and her father, Ramesh Thakur, confirmed that final arrangements are being made for the event.
With the announcement of the Bihar election dates, Maithili Thakur’s name has quickly become a topic of discussion across political and cultural circles. Her entry into politics was hinted at when BJP leader Vinod Tawde recently posted a photograph of his meeting with her. Since then, speculations have been strong that the popular singer might be one of the party’s new faces in Mithila. Talking about this new phase, Maithili said she was deeply inspired by the support she received from senior BJP leaders Nityanand Rai and Vinod Tawde. “Singing will always be a part of my life, but now I want to serve people through public work as well. This new journey gives me an opportunity to help my region and state,” she said.
Maithili also shared that her heart remains connected to both Darbhanga and Madhubani, her home districts. She expressed her wish to contest from either Alinagar in Darbhanga or Benipatti in Madhubani. Currently, Vinod Narayan Jha is the sitting MLA from Benipatti, while Mishri Lal Yadav represents Alinagar. Sources say that due to some recent controversies involving Mishri Lal Yadav, the party may consider fielding a new face from Alinagar — a move that could favour Maithili’s candidature.
Her father, Ramesh Thakur, confirmed that Maithili will formally join the BJP in front of senior party leaders. “The event will be held either in Patna or Delhi, and the exact location will be confirmed by this evening. Maithili has expressed her desire to contest from her home area, Benipatti,” he said. Her entry into politics, he added, is guided by her long-standing admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and her belief in his leadership.
Maithili Thakur, who hails from Benipatti, has been a strong cultural ambassador for Bihar. She was declared the ‘State Icon’ of Bihar by the Election Commission for her efforts to promote awareness and pride in local traditions. Trained in classical and folk music under her father and grandfather, Maithili, along with her brothers, has performed across India and abroad. She also received the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar from the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2021 for her contribution to folk music.
With her huge fan following and deep cultural roots, Maithili’s political debut is seen as an important development for the BJP in the Mithila region. Her entry could energise young voters and bring cultural appeal to the campaign ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections.
