New Delhi: A meeting between Maithili Thakur and two senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is being viewed as a signal that the folk and devotional singer might contest the upcoming Bihar assembly elections.
The possibility of Thakur taking the political plunge, possibly from the Mithila region, arose after she met BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai on 5 October. Following the meeting, party sources told ThePrint that Thakur has expressed a desire to contest the elections on a BJP ticket.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced Monday that the Bihar assembly polls will take place in two phases on 6 and 11 November, with the counting on 14 November.
Last month, while extending greetings on the third day of Sharadiya Navratri, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a devotional song sung by Thakur on X.
Modi had previously praised Thakur’s singing on Shabri, who in the Ramayana had offered half-eaten fruits to the deity Rama during his exile.
अयोध्या में प्राण-प्रतिष्ठा का अवसर देशभर के मेरे परिवारजनों को प्रभु श्री राम के जीवन और आदर्शों से जुड़े एक-एक प्रसंग का स्मरण करा रहा है। ऐसा ही एक भावुक प्रसंग शबरी से जुड़ा है। सुनिए, मैथिली ठाकुर जी ने किस तरह से इसे अपने सुमधुर सुरों में पिरोया है।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 20, 2024
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Thakur said: “I, too, have been seeing these things on TV. I recently visited Bihar and had the opportunity to meet Nityanand Rai, as well as Vinod Tawde. We discussed Bihar’s future. No official announcement has been made at this time. But let’s see what happens. I would like to stand from my village constituency because I have an attachment to it.”
ThePrint tried to reach Maithili Thakur via text and call but did not receive a response by the time of publication. This report will be updated if and when a response is received.
Asked who she was supporting in the Bihar elections, the 25-year-old replied, “I don’t want to comment on this right now… I am standing strong to contribute whatever possible towards the country’s development.”
Tawde shared photos of his meeting on X Sunday, saying Thakur, whose family had left Bihar in 1995 during the tenure of former chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, wishes to return after witnessing the state’s progress. “Today, Union Minister of State for Home @nityanandraibjp ji and I urged her that for the people of Bihar and for the development of Bihar, her contribution is expected by the common man of Bihar and that she fulfil their expectations. Best wishes to Bihar’s daughter, Maithili Thakur ji,” wrote Tawde.
Responding to Tawde’s post, Thakur expressed gratitude, “The people who dream big for Bihar, every conversation with them reminds me of the power of vision and service. Honoured and grateful from the heart.”
According to sources in the BJP, Thakur has expressed an interest in contesting the assembly elections, but a final decision rests with the central leadership.
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Thakur’s possible position in the BJP
There are two seats the BJP may offer Thakur, a senior party leader told ThePrint, adding: “After the meeting, she expressed her desire to contest the election from either Alinagar or Benipatti. It is possible that she may be fielded from one of these two seats.
“Since Maithili is considered the daughter of Mithila, and she takes pride in this, there will be an emotional connect, too. However, while her name is being discussed, a final decision rests with the central leadership.”
A party functionary from Bihar told ThePrint they are keen that Thakur may campaign for them even if she does not contest the elections.
“Ticket distribution is a major exercise, and many people who express a desire to contest the election are evaluated by the party at the state level first, and a decision is then taken by the central leadership. At this juncture, nothing is final,” he added.
However, the leader said Thakur has a huge “social media following and represents the culture of Bihar,” and that her connection with the younger generation is an important factor that could work in the party’s favour. The singer has 6.3 million Instagram followers and posts regular updates about her programmes.
Sources in the party told ThePrint that there is no confirmation yet on her candidature, and they want to field more first-time candidates and younger politicians in the elections, especially to counter anti-incumbency against NDA ally Nitish Kumar.
Thakur was born in Benipatti in Bihar’s Madhubani district. She rose to fame after her performance and participation in Zee TV’s show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champs in 2011.
She was trained by her father and grandfather in both Maithili folk music and Hindustani classical music. Thakur is known for singing folk songs, particularly in three languages— Maithili, Bhojpuri and Hindi. The ECI made Thakur the state icon for Bihar in 2023.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)
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