Stars shine And Fade: Bihar Superstars, singers get mixed results
Patna – Patna witnessed a dramatic electoral showdown on Friday as Bhojpuri stars and social media sensations entered the Bihar Assembly Election race. They drew curiosity, crowds, and massive online engagement. Yet, as counting progressed and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) surged toward a sweeping victory, their political fortunes shifted sharply. Some stars made strong debuts, while others lost momentum.
Khesari Lal Yadav took center stage first. He contested from Chhapra on an RJD ticket. He enjoys huge fame in Bhojpuri cinema. However, by 2:30 pm, he trailed BJP candidate Chhoti Kumari by nearly 20,000 votes. He remained confident, but the numbers showed a tough fight.
Earlier, he sparked controversy with remarks about the Ram Temple. He argued that faith and education should remain separate. Critics attacked him for his songs, which they called vulgar. He defended his work and said Chhapra’s problems had nothing to do with his music. Meanwhile, his workout videos continued to go viral and earned praise online. His popularity stayed high, though the vote count told a different story.
Ritesh Pandey also attracted attention. He holds the record for the most-viewed Bhojpuri song, “Hello Kaun,” which crossed one billion views. He contested from Kargahar on a Jan Suraaj Party ticket. Yet, his numbers fell quickly. By early afternoon, he slipped to the fourth spot. He lagged behind JDU’s Bashisth Singh by over 36,000 votes. His star power could not translate into electoral support.
However, Alinagar presented a contrasting picture. Singer Maithili Thakur surged ahead on a BJP ticket. She commands over 11 million followers across YouTube and Instagram. Her devotional music brings her a loyal audience. In 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised her performance on Maa Shabri. She later won the Cultural Ambassador of the Year award at the National Creators Awards. On Friday, she converted that goodwill into votes. She moved toward a decisive lead as counting continued.
Karakat saw another celebrity fight. Jyoti Singh, wife of Bhojpuri actor Pawan Singh, contested as an Independent. The seat featured a multi-cornered battle with JDU, CPI(ML), and Jan Suraaj candidates. Jyoti Singh made headlines even before the polls. She accused Pawan Singh of infidelity, and their dispute turned public during candidate selection. But her campaign struggled to gain traction. By 2:30 pm, she stood third, trailing JDU’s Mahabali Singh by over 32,000 votes.
Thus, Bihar saw fame clash with ground realities. Some stars held their shine. Others faced setbacks as early trends favored the NDA. The day revealed a simple truth: public affection does not always turn into votes.
