Who is Maithili Thakur? Popular folk singer and BJP candidate leads in Alinagar

BJP candidate Maithili Thakur is leading from the Alinagar seat in the Bihar election. The 25-year-old is ahead 8,551 votes after 11 rounds of counting, according to latest data from the Election Commission of India. Maithili Thakur, 25, is contesting the Bihar assembly elections from Alinagar. The folk singer-turned-politician has emerged as a giant slayer in the 2025 Bihar assembly elections, taking a comfortable lead over her opponent – Binod Mishra, an RJD heavyweight. If this trend continues, Thakur could become the youngest MLA from Bihar. She turned 25 in July this year. “Dream come true”Speaking to ANI, Maithili Thakur said, “This is like a dream. People have a lot of expectations of me… This will be my first term as an MLA, and I will do my best for my constituency… I will serve my people as their daughter… I can only see Alinagar right now and how I can work them…” Thakur had earlier promised to change the name of the constituency from Alinagar to Sitanagar if she won. She reiterated the promise to India Today this morning. More about Maithili ThakurMaithili Thakur is a popular singer who stepped into politics with the Bihar assembly elections as a BJP candidate. Trained in Indian classical music as well as folk traditions, her repertoire includes Maithili, Bhojpuri, devotional bhajans, and filmi-style songs. Maithili hails from Benipatti in the Madhubani drict of Bihar. Her family later moved to Dwarka, New Delhi to support her musical training and growth. Her father, Ramesh Thakur, is a music teacher, and she learned music from both him and her grandfather since she was very young. In 2017, she gained broader recognition after participating in the reality singing show Rising Star India. Since then, she’s built a strong social media presence, especially on YouTube, where she posts classical and folk renditions.