Folk singers eyeing tickets of all parties in Bihar Assembly elections

Lending a touch of glamor to the dust and grime of electoral politics in Bihar, several folk singers, some of whom are now working in the film industry, seem ready to give it a shot in the upcoming assembly elections.

While Maithili Thakur, a popular folk singer from Bihar, has already expressed her willingness to contest the state elections after meeting senior BJP leaders, the Jan Suraaj Party has fielded Bhojpuri singer Ritesh Ranjan Pandey as its candidate for the Kargahar seat.

“It would be a different journey for me and I am ready for it,” Thakur, 25, told the media recently after meeting senior BJP leaders, including Vinod Tawde and Union Minister Nityanand Rai.

As the state Assembly elections approach, there is a lot of buzz around Bhojpuri superstar Pawan Singh, hailing from Ara in Bhojpur district, entering the fray in the elections.

Speculation is rife that Singh might contest the elections on a BJP ticket from one of the seven assembly seats in Bhojpur district, preferably from Ara or Barhara seats.

Singh, who had unsuccessfully contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as an independent from Karakat seat, recently met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) leader and Rajya Sabha member Upendra Kushwaha.

The Karakat seat was won by Raja Ram Kushwaha of the CPI (ML) Liberation in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

In the 2020 assembly elections, the NDA could win only two seats out of 22 in Shahabad region, which includes Bhojpur, Buxar, Rohtas and Kaimur districts.

Commenting on Jan Suraaj Party’s decision to field him from Kargahar assembly seat, Pandey told PTI, “I am extremely grateful to our leader Prashant Kishor ji for giving me this opportunity. I am a son of this soil… Since I am contesting from the region which is my birthplace, I am sure people will support me and ensure my victory.”

Pandey said he was an artist and came to Kargahar regularly and wanted to work for the people of the area.

Another popular Bhojpuri singer Shilpi Raj recently met Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan in Delhi.

The party shared photographs of its meeting with Paswan on its X handle. Party sources said Raj may field in the upcoming Assembly polls.

Despite repeated attempts, she could not be contacted for comment.

Speaking to PTI, popular Bhojpuri singer Alok Kumar, who recently joined Jan Suraaj Party, said, “I joined the party because of Prashant Kishor ji. He is the person who changed the definition of politics. I’ll think about it.” He also urged artists to join politics as there is “nothing wrong at all”.

Bhojpuri actor and singer turned BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, who hails from Atarwalia village in Kaimur district and has made Delhi his political ‘karmabhoomi’ (workplace), told PTI, “Bhojpuri stars are doing well in national politics. I hope this time more folk singers will win in the assembly polls in Bihar. Tiwary, one of the leading actors in the Bhojpuri genre of the Indian film industry, is the BJP’s Lok Sabha MP from North East Delhi.

“I must say that folk singers are more connected to the masses and know the pulse of the people. Therefore, they must join politics. For our Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, politics is a means to serve the people. It is for the social cause. Therefore, inspired by Modi ji’s vision and principles, folk singers are joining politics in Bihar,” Tiwary said.

Vinay Bihari, BJP MLA from Lauriya assembly seat in West Champaran, is the only Bhojpuri singer in the outgoing Bihar assembly.

The assembly elections in Bihar will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11, while the counting of votes will take place on November 14.