Daijiworld Media Network - Patna
Patna, Oct 14: Celebrated folk singer Maithili Thakur formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bihar on Monday, just weeks ahead of the state’s upcoming assembly elections.
The 25-year-old artist was welcomed into the party fold by state BJP president Dilip Jaiswal at a press event in Patna. Speaking briefly after her induction, Thakur said, “Whatever job the party assigns me, I will do it.”
Thakur had earlier met with senior BJP leaders and had publicly signalled her interest in contesting the elections. Though the BJP has yet to officially confirm her candidacy, her entry into the political arena has stirred fresh buzz in the campaign season.
Hailing from Benipatti in Madhubani district, Maithili Thakur rose to fame for her soulful renditions of Maithili and Bhojpuri folk songs, many of which went viral on social media. Alongside her brothers Rishav and Ayachi, she has performed at major cultural festivals in India and abroad.
In recognition of her contributions to Indian folk music, she was awarded the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2021.
Thakur’s popularity among the youth and cultural communities in Bihar could prove to be a strategic asset for the BJP as it gears up for a high-stakes election in the state.
Bihar will vote in two phases — November 6 and 11 — with results to be declared on November 14.