From Litti-Chokha Stall to Politics: Khesari Lal Yadav Declares ₹24.81 Crore Assets as He Enters Bihar Election Arena

Khesari Lal Yadav Declares ₹24.81 Crore in Assets

Bhojpuri film star and singer Khesari Lal Yadav has officially entered Bihar’s political battlefield, filing his nomination papers from Chapra as a candidate of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). According to his affidavit — submitted under his birth name Shatrughan Yadav — the entertainer-turned-politician owns assets worth ₹24.81 crore, combining movable and immovable properties.

The affidavit lists ₹16.89 crore in movable assets and ₹7.91 crore in immovable assets. His wife, Chanda Yadav, owns ₹90.02 lakh in movable assets and ₹6.49 crore in immovable properties.

Among the high-value possessions declared are a Land Rover Defender worth ₹3 crore, gold jewellery valued at ₹35 lakh, and ₹5 lakh in cash, along with multiple bank accounts. Yadav’s annual income for 2023–24 was reported at ₹73.5 lakh, down from ₹95 lakh in 2022–23 and ₹1.01 crore in 2020–21.

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A Journey from Hardship to Stardom

Before achieving stardom in the Bhojpuri industry, Khesari Lal Yadav’s life was marked by struggle and resilience. Born to Mangaru Yadav, who juggled jobs as a street vendor and security guard, Khesari spent his early years grazing cattle and selling milk in his village.

After the family moved to Delhi, they began selling litti-chokha, a traditional Bihari dish — a chapter Yadav often cites as a turning point that instilled perseverance and humility.

Over the years, Yadav has featured in over 100 Bhojpuri films and performed more than 5,000 songs, becoming one of the most recognizable figures in Bhojpuri cinema.

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Political Debut with the RJD

Yadav’s decision to join the RJD, announced just a day before filing his nomination, has injected star power into the party’s campaign. His wife, Chanda Yadav, also formally joined the RJD during a function in Patna.

Speaking to reporters after filing his papers, Yadav said, “My heart has always been with the RJD. I come from the soil, and I’ll always stand for the people who made me who I am.”

Political analysts suggest that his immense popularity among migrant workers, youth, and Bhojpuri-speaking audiences could help the RJD consolidate support in the Saran region, a politically crucial district with deep historical ties to leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan and Lalu Prasad Yadav.

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Bihar Assembly Elections 2025: The Larger Picture

The Bihar Assembly Election 2025 will be held in two phases — on November 6 and 11, with results to be announced on November 14. Yadav’s Chapra constituency will vote in the first phase.

The RJD, a key member of the INDIA bloc alongside the Congress and Left parties, faces off against the NDA, led by the BJP and JD(U), who are contesting 101 seats each as per their seat-sharing deal.

Yadav’s candidacy is seen as part of the RJD’s strategy to blend grassroots appeal with celebrity influence, tapping into Bihar’s vast migrant population and entertainment-driven youth demographic.