PatnaOctober 7, 2025 01:55 PM IST First published on: Oct 7, 2025 at 01:55 PM ISTFolk singer Maithili Thakur, 25, could contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections from the Benipatti or Alinagar seat in Mithilanchal, The Indian Express has learnt.Maithili first gained popularity at the age of 12, when she launched a YouTube channel, where she would sing Maithili and Bhojpuri songs.She now has over 51 lakh subscribers on YouTube and 63 lakh followers on Instagram.AdvertisementOver the past decade, she gained attention performing at events both in India and abroad, including some attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Her brothers, Risabh Thakur and Ayachi Thakur, as well as her father, Ramesh Thakur, are also singers.In a Facebook post on Monday, BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde wrote about his meeting with her, “Renowned singer Maithili Thakur, whose family left Bihar in 1995 during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure, now wishes to return to the state, inspired by its rapid development. Today, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai and I requested her to contribute to Bihar’s growth and development, fulfilling the expectations of its people. We wish Maithili Thakur all the best.”Thakur had earlier been made the ‘State Icon’ of Bihar by the Election Commission of India to promote voter awareness. Speaking to reporters in Jabalpur on Monday, when asked about whether she would be willing to contest the polls, Thakur said she has a special connection with her hometown and starting her political career from there would teach her a lot.AdvertisementAsked whether she had a preference about the Assembly seat, Thakur, who was in Jabalpur to perform at the Narmada Mahotsav, said, “There hasn’t been any official announcement yet, but I would like to go to my village area because I have a special connection with it. Starting from there will also give me a chance to learn. Meeting people, talking to them… I will understand more if I start from my village.”Her village falls under Benipatti (Madhubani), represented by senior BJP leader and former minister Vinod Narayan Jha.Bihar BJP sources said, “It could be either Alinagar or Benipatti… The party has to take a call after considering all factors. Her popularity could be an asset for us.”Thakur started receiving training from her grandfather, Shobhasindhu Thakur, at their village of Uren in Benipatti when she was just four years old. Her father, a noted Maithil musician and music teacher, and her mother, Bharti Thakur, named her after both goddess Sita and their mother tongue, Maithili.Along with her brothers, she received her early training in Maithili folk and Hindustani classical music, as well as the harmonium and tabla. Her parents later took her to Delhi in pursuit of better opportunities and exposure. She graduated in political science from Delhi University.With PTI inputs