Lucknow/New Delhi: Two Bhojpuri stars have made headlines this month for various causes, however each share a standard objective, making it huge in Bihar politics.

On Thursday, Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj introduced common Bhojpuri singer-actor Ritesh Pandey as its candidate for the upcoming Bihar meeting polls from Kargahar constituency. One other singer-actor Pawan Singh, who joined and give up the BJP final 12 months and was this month once more reinducted into the celebration, has been within the information for his troubles together with his spouse.

Other than Ritesh and Pawan, at the least half a dozen Bhojpuri movie and music stars are believed to be searching for celebration nominations in Bihar, together with Khesari Lal Yadav, Akshara Singh and Maithili Thakur.

Chatting with ThePrint, Ritesh, 34, mentioned he “wished to do one thing for my district (Rohtas)”.

“I’ve been concerned in social work for fairly a while and want to change the picture of Bihar. Once I went to Mumbai for the primary time, I observed the discrimination confronted by Biharis there. Since then, I’ve determined to make folks conscious of the problems surrounding migration. If we get good alternatives right here, why would we have to migrate?” he requested.

In his ballot marketing campaign, Ritesh has been selling the slogan “siksha bahut zaruri ba” (schooling is essential). In each election assembly, he pushes the problems of schooling and migration.

Bihar-based political analysts are intently watching the development of Bhojpuri stars eyeing the state’s political enviornment.

Patna-based sociologist Prof Gyanendra Yadav, a college member at School of Commerce, Arts & Science, informed ThePrint: “Bhojpuri movie stars get pleasure from immense recognition in Bihar, notably among the many lower-middle-class and working-class sections. Nevertheless, their recognition doesn’t essentially translate into electoral success.”

“Not like south India, the place movie stars usually have lasting political affect, Bihar’s expertise has been totally different. Apart from Shatrughan Sinha, no movie star has managed to maintain a long-term political profession right here.”

“It is going to be attention-grabbing to see how the attraction of those regional cinema stars performs out within the upcoming elections, as all main events appear to be banking on their affect.”

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Ritesh Pandey & Pawan Singh

Ritesh Pandey comes from a modest background. After scoring 72% marks in intermediate exams, his dad and mom wished him to maneuver to Kota to arrange for medical entrance. Nevertheless, Ritesh’s true ardour lay in music. Defying household expectations, he selected to pursue singing and started acting at small native occasions, in line with folks near him.

His breakthrough got here by his music. His superhit observe Howdy Kaun grew to become a sensation, garnering over 900 million views on YouTube and making it the most-viewed Bhojpuri tune of all time. One other common quantity, Piyawa Se Pahile Hamaar Rahlu, additionally struck a deep chord with listeners.

In keeping with Jan Suraaj functionaries, the celebration is assured that his recognition within the Bhojpuri world and his reference to the general public will make him a powerful candidate.

Pawan Singh, however, has had a stint within the ballot fray. Final 12 months, he unsuccessfully contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election as an Unbiased from the Karakat seat. He had been expelled from the BJP for his determination to face towards the official candidate. He misplaced narrowly to CPI-ML Liberation’s Raja Ram Singh Kushwaha.

This 12 months, he was once more eyeing a ballot ticket for the state elections. “I’ve contested the Lok Sabha elections. Now, I’ll struggle the Bihar meeting elections,” Pawan had mentioned earlier this 12 months.

On 30 September, he met Union ministers Amit Shah and J.P. Nadda, who can also be the BJP nationwide president, and declared he was once more of the celebration. He additionally known as on NDA ally and Rashtriya Lok Morcha president Upendra Kushwaha, who had misplaced the Lok Sabha contest from Karakat partly attributable to Pawan’s impartial candidature.

For these conferences, Pawan was accompanied by BJP leaders Vinod Tawde (basic secretary) and Rituraj Sinha (nationwide secretary).

Different Bhojpuri stars creating political buzz

Bhojpuri actress Akshara Singh has additionally grow to be the centre of consideration in Bihar’s political circles following her assembly with Union minister and BJP’s Begusarai MP Giriraj Singh earlier this week.

Sharing a photograph from the assembly on X, Akshara described it as a “courtesy go to” and talked about that she received the minister’s blessings.

Akshara is among the many hottest and highest-paid actresses within the Bhojpuri movie trade. She has obtained a number of awards for her performances and is finest identified for her roles in movies such because the motion drama Tabadala, the political drama Sarkar Raj and the action-romance Satya.

One other common face folks singer from Bihar’s Mithila area, Maithili Thakur, has grow to be a subject of dialogue amid hypothesis that she could contest Bihar elections from her house constituency, Madhubani.

The rumours gained momentum after BJP’s Bihar in-charge, Vinod Tawde, shared photographs of a gathering between Maithili and Union Minister of State for Dwelling Nityanand Rai in New Delhi.

Posting the images on X, Tawde referred to Maithili as “Bihar’s daughter” and welcomed her again to the state.

Taking a swipe on the rival Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), earlier in energy within the state, Tawde wrote: “The households that left Bihar after Lalu (Prasad) got here to energy in 1995 , the daughter of 1 such household, the famend singer Maithili Thakur  now needs to return to Bihar, impressed by the state’s transformation.”

Responding to Tawde’s remarks, Maithili expressed her appreciation: “Each dialog with those that dream huge for Bihar jogs my memory of the ability of imaginative and prescient and repair. I’m deeply honoured and grateful.”

The singer hails from the Mithila area, encompassing Madhubani and Darbhanga.

In keeping with sources, the BJP is contemplating providing her one among two doable seats, Madhubani or Alinagar, in Darbhanga the place Maithili has proven willingness to contest.

In the meantime, Bhojpuri star Khesari Lal Yadav is attracting consideration within the opposition camp, as hypothesis grows that both he or his spouse could contest the Bihar elections on an RJD ticket.

Sources in RJD mentioned both of them would contest from Manjhi constituency. If Khesari’s spouse contests, then he’ll work as a star campaigner for the RJD.

Chatting with the media, Khesari mentioned: “Tejashwi Yadav (of RJD) and Akhilesh Yadav (of SP) are like elder brothers to me. If they need, my spouse Chanda will contest. She has been lively in social work, and now that our kids are grown up, she is able to take up the accountability.”

Through the interplay, Khesari additionally appeared to take a jab at fellow Bhojpuri actors, together with Pawan Singh, with out naming them.

He remarked that whereas some folks would possibly win elections driving on their stardom, true management lies in staying related with the general public. “In the event that they don’t stay among the many folks, who will hear their issues?” he requested, including that elections ought to be fought by these keen to serve the group instantly.

(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)

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