Maithili Thakur has made her political debut by joining the BJP, creating waves much like Pawan Singh. While she's yet to decline a run for office outright like Singh, she emphasizes her political journey is driven by a service-minded mission. She implies participation in elections isn’t imperative for her, blending community service with potential candidacy.
There's a divided sentiment about Maithili's political leap, with many from Bihar feeling detached from her ambitions. Even those rallying from her roots in Mithilanchal see a split, supported chiefly by ardent BJP followers.
The BJP leadership views Maithili’s entry as a strategic asset, though grassroots workers manifest publicly their dissent. In a notable meeting in May 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged BJP leaders, asking, 'Why do workers labor for the party if not to be rewarded?' Originally a critique of familial politics, his message finds resonance in these scenarios as well.
BJP's Crowd Magnet: Like Pawan Singh, Like Maithili
As Pawan Singh faced decisions between Arrah or Karakat, Maithili eyes Benipatti and Alinagar constituencies. Located in Madhubani and Darbhanga, respectively, both are BJP territories. The current declaration of Vinod Narayan Jha in Benipatti now leaves Alinagar as the plausible target.
Pawan Singh has clarified his entry into politics wasn't for candidacy, and Maithili echoes this with nuances. She credits her inspiration to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, declaring her motive is to amplify his ideologies.
Maithili professes, 'I came for societal service, to extend my roots in Mithila and support the party.' Maithili or Pawan Singh, their celebrity status aims at fueling BJP's rallies. Election bids aside, Maithili’s recruitment primarily channels into campaigning, paralleling Pawan Singh's episode.
Denying Maithili a ticket might favor BJP more, leveraging her promotional reach without altering candidacy. This presents an optimal dual gain, akin to preserving both substance and allure.
Why Do Workers Strive?
News of Maithili's candidacy sparked raucous protests outside the BJP office in Patna. Loyal workers feel sidelined by years of diligence as Maithili’s stature overshadows eligible members. They label this decision as unjust, questioning Maithili's merit devoid of political nous.
Social media echoes disapproval citing her commercial exploit of Mithilanchal, with voices warning, ‘If she contests, we’ll resist.’ Even Prime Minister Modi's May visit rekindled, asking, ‘Why shouldn’t workers savor their labor’s rewards?’ Swerving from dynastic politics, his remarks at the BJP assembly hinted, ‘Patriarchal dominance shouldn’t prevail.’
Modi further advised leaders to amplify social media presence, pegging candidacy on followership; in contrast, Maithili towers over BJP’s cadre digitally, with her followers surpassing even Pawan Singh on platforms like X.
