The Bihar Assembly Election 2025 witnessed several celebrity candidates from the Bhojpuri film industry and the social media world trying their luck in politics. As counting progressed and the NDA moved toward a historic landslide victory, the star candidates experienced sharply contrasting outcomes. While some achieved impressive political debuts, others faced heavy setbacks.
Khesari Lal Yadav
Bhojpuri superstar Khesari Lal Yadav contested from Chhapra on an RJD ticket. Despite his massive popularity and dominance in Bhojpuri cinema, he trailed significantly behind BJP candidate Chhoti Kumari, lagging by nearly 20,000 votes by 2.30 pm.
Yadav was embroiled in controversy before the elections for his remarks on the Ram Temple and also faced criticism for the bold content of his songs. He defended himself, stating that issues like waterlogging, healthcare, and education were unrelated to his work as an entertainer. Despite the political struggle, his fitness videos continued to earn praise from fans across social media.
Ritesh Pandey
Singer and actor Ritesh Pandey, known for the record-breaking Bhojpuri song “Hello Kaun,” contested from the Kargahar seat on a Jan Suraaj Party ticket. His political campaign did not translate into electoral support, as he stood in fourth place and trailed by over 36,000 votes behind JD(U)’s Bashisth Singh.
Despite having worked with top names in the Bhojpuri industry, the actor faced an uphill battle against established political figures.
Maithili Thakur
Spiritual singer and digital sensation Maithili Thakur, who enjoys over 11 million online followers, emerged as one of the few celebrity candidates to secure a decisive lead. Contesting on a BJP ticket from Alinagar, she was heading toward a clear victory by the afternoon.
Her popularity grew further after Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised her rendition of a devotional song in early 2024. She was also honored with the Cultural Ambassador of the Year award at the National Creators Awards.
Jyoti Singh
Jyoti Singh, wife of Bhojpuri actor Pawan Singh, contested as an Independent from the Karakat seat. Karakat saw a high-profile, multi-cornered contest involving candidates from JDU, CPI(ML), and Jan Suraaj.
Jyoti Singh faced intense public attention due to her personal disputes with Pawan Singh in the lead-up to the elections. As of 2.30 pm, she was in third place, trailing by more than 32,000 votes behind JDU’s Mahabali Singh.
The Bihar election highlighted that glamour alone does not guarantee political success. While Maithili Thakur’s victory demonstrated the power of digital influence and public goodwill, the struggles of other entertainment personalities underscored the political maturity of Bihar’s electorate, who ultimately prioritized governance and local issues over celebrity presence.
