Bhojpuri cinema icon Khesari Lal Yadav is currently facing a setback in his first-ever political race, as early counting trends show him trailing in the Chapra constituency of the Bihar Assembly elections 2025.

The popular actor and singer, contesting as a candidate for the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), is behind his rival after the second round of vote counting. The latest reports indicate that Chhoti Kumari, the candidate representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), holds a lead of 1,627 votes. Chhoti Kumari has secured 3,301 votes so far, compared to Khesari Lal Yadav’s 2,327.

The celebrity’s entry into politics was recent, joining the RJD just a day prior to submitting his nomination papers for the Saran district seat.

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Financial Disclosure and Humble Roots

Yadav, whose birth name is Shatrughan Yadav, submitted an election affidavit detailing significant personal wealth. He declared total assets valued at ₹24.81 crore. This includes movable assets worth ₹16.89 crore and immovable property totaling ₹7.91 crore. His declared assets also feature a luxury car and gold jewelry valued at ₹35 lakh. His wife, Chanda Yadav, a homemaker who also recently joined the RJD, declared assets of her own.

Despite his current superstar status—having starred in nearly 100 films and recorded over 5,000 songs—Yadav has often spoken about his modest upbringing. He has shared that his father worked as both a street vendor and a security guard, and that he himself grew up grazing cattle, selling milk, and later selling litti-chokha in Delhi with his family. This assembly election marks the first time the prominent Bhojpuri figure has sought public office.