In the state Bihar , a mixture of political veterans, fresh faces, and established names from the entertainment world are queuing up to submit their nomination forms.

Over 50 candidates are set to file their forms by Friday evening, which is an eventful end to the nomination period.Among the ones gaining considerable public interest is folk singing sensation Maithili Thakur. The 25-year-old artiste, who had recently ventured into active politics by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), will be contesting from the Alinagar constituency in Darbhanga district. Thakur, whose soulful Maithili and Bhojpuri folk songs have won many fans, has emerged as one of the youngest party candidates in this election. Her nomination is being seen as the party’s calculated move to reach out to the young and culturally attuned voters of Bihar.

Joining politics with star power is well known Bhojpuri singer and actor Khesari Lal Yadav. Contesting on the BJP ticket from the Chhapra seat, Yadav’s nomination has generated excitement among his fans as well as political analysts. His nomination marks one of the rare occasions when two of Bihar’s most beloved performers—Maithili Thakur and Khesari Lal—are contesting the same election under the same party banner.

Chetan Anand, another prominent candidate, will also submit his nomination today. Son of veteran politician and former MP Anand Mohan, Chetan is a candidate of the Janata Dal (United) and is fighting from Navinagar. The Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) have also put up strong candidates in many crucial constituencies.

Satish Kumar Yadav will be facing RJD chief Tejashwi Prasad Yadav in Raghopur, perhaps the most high-profile contest of this election. Raghopur is a classic Yadav stronghold and has been a political fiefdom of the Lalu Prasad clan for years, and this contest is likely to attract significant attention in the days to come. Bhola Yadav, a trusted lieutenant of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, has also joined the battle, and that too has increased competition in the Yadav-dominated seats.

On the Congress side, Rajesh Ram will fight on Kutumba seat, while Shakeel Ahmed Khan, a former minister, will contest from Kadwa. The party is optimistic to rebuild its lost ground in areas where it had predominance before the reign of the RJD. Meanwhile, the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) headed by Mukesh Sahani remains in the air of uncertainty. The party that was earlier a major Bihar coalition player now finds itself stuck in last-minute seat-sharing talks. Sources indicate that the VIP leadership has been communicating with both the NDA and opposition benches, seeking the best possible alliance before the deadline.

The nomination rush falls in a moment when Bihar’s political landscape is seeing changing allegiances, fresh coalitions, and increased popular interest. The entry of the celebrities and youth leaders has added a dose of glamour and energy to the campaign pitting starkly against the tried caste- and community-based politics that have ruled the state’s elections for so long.

Through Maithili Thakur’s folk appeal, Khesari Lal Yadav’s mass appeal, or Chetan Anand’s political tradition, the first phase of 2025 Bihar Assembly elections is going to be interesting.The stage is thus set for a colorful and hotly contested election year-one that could reshape the state’s political story.

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