Written by Were Kelly
The Alinagar constituency in Bihar has elected 25-year-old folk singer and political novice Maithili Thakur as its new representative, in a victory that has instantly cemented her status as a youth icon for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
Thakur, who only joined the BJP in October, secured a resounding win by a margin of over 8,000 votes, her emotional victory speech and humble demeanour captivating supporters and onlookers alike.
The polls, held on 6 and 11 November, saw Thakur defeat her nearest rival from the Rashtriya Janata Dal by a comfortable margin.
In her address to supporters, she became tearful as she thanked her “family” of voters and credited the victory to the national and state leadership.
“This is the start of a new journey for me and for Alinagar. I am proud to serve under the leadership of Modi-ji and Nitish-ji,” she stated.
A BJP spokesperson celebrated the result as a “cultural and political win,” highlighting its significance in the culturally rich Mithilanchal region and its appeal to a younger demographic.
Thakur’s victory is a key component of the National Democratic Alliance’s landslide performance in the 2025 Bihar elections, which was notably powered by a 15 per cent surge in youth voter turnout.
It follows a growing trend of political parties recruiting celebrities from cinema and music to connect with voters, a strategy that carries the risk of diluting political discourse but has repeatedly proven effective.
As a young woman representing a traditionally patriarchal region, her success is also seen as an empowering moment for female political participation.
The BJP will be hoping that Thakur’s star power and genuine connection with the electorate can be replicated elsewhere as they look to consolidate their hold with over 200 seats in the state assembly.
Sources: ABP Live (news.abplive.com), AajTak (aajtak.in)
Written by Were Kelly
