Fact Check: Bihar polls - BJP pick Maithili Thakur takes oath as MLA before results declaration? No, here is the truth
A video is circulating on social media with the claim that BJP candidate for Bihar polls, Maithili Thakur, took the oath as a Member of the Legislative Assembly before the Bihar elections results were announced.
By - K Sherly Sharon
Claim:The video shows Alinagar BJP candidate Maithili Thakur taking the oath as an MLA even before the Bihar Assembly election results are announced.
Fact:The claim is false. The video shows Maithili Thakur taking an oath while filing her nomination as a poll candidate.
Hyderabad: Polling for the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 across the state concluded on November 11. The counting of the votes began on November 14, and the results are set to be announced the same day.
Among the prominent candidates is Maithili Thakur, a singer-turned-politician. She is a BJP candidate contesting from the Alinagar constituency.
A video showing Maithili Thakur is going viral on social media with the claim that she took an oath as the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) even before the election results were announced. The text on the video reads, “It is possible with Modi”.
The video shows her reading an oath in an office with supposed BJP leaders.
The video was shared on X with the caption, “People of Bihar, we didn’t expect this from you. Even before the voting results, you are already declaring Maithili Thakur the winner. Because of you, preparations for taking the oath have already begun even before the results. Congratulations to the people of Bihar - the BJP has already won one seat.” (Translated from Hindi) (Archive)
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim is false. The video shows Alinagar BJP Candidate Maithili Thakur taking an oath while filing her nomination as a candidate for Alinagar Legislative Assembly Elections.
Using reverse image search of the viral video keyframes, we found the same footage uploaded to the YouTube channel of Mithila Foodie on October 24. The title of the video states that the video shows Maithili Thakur filing her nomination from the Alinagar constituency.
NDTV India on October 17 shared a video showing Maithili Thakur in the same outfit, garlands and a pink cap. The title of the video also states, ‘Maithili Thakur files her nomination’.
Zee Bihar Jharkhand also uploaded the same video, confirming that the viral video shows Maithili Thakur filing her nomination as a candidate for the Legislative Assembly of Alinagar constituency in Bihar.
What is the difference between the oath-taking by a poll candidate and a winning candidate?
In the viral video as well as the YouTube video uploaded by Mithila Foodie, Maithili Thakur is seen adorned in garlands and a pink cap.
She is heard saying, “I, Maithili Thakur, having been nominated as a candidate to fill a seat in a Legislative Assembly, do swear in the name of God, solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established and that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India.” (Translated from Hindi)
Oath by poll candidate
According to the Constitution of India, Article 173 (A), to qualify as a member of the state legislature, a person must make and subscribe an oath or affirmation before a person authorised by the Election Commission. This form of oath or affirmation is set out in the 3rd Schedule.
Forms of Oath or Affirmations from the 3rd Schedule were shared on the website of the Ministry of External Affairs. Form of oath or affirmation to be made by a candidate for election to the Legislature of a State under VII (A) in this document states the same oath that Maithili Thakur is seen taking in the viral video.
Oath by the winning candidate
Whereas, after a candidate wins elections, they would have to take the oath prescribed as “Form of oath or affirmation to be made by a member of the Legislature of a State”. The document shared by MEA shows this oath or affirmation in the Third Schedule under VII (B).
The oath reads, ““I, A.B., having been elected (or nominated) a member of the Legislative Assembly (or Legislative Council), do swear in the name of God that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India and that I will faithfully discharge the duty upon which I am about to enter.”
Therefore, it is clear that the viral video shows the Alinagar BJP candidate Maithili Thakur taking the oath during nomination as a candidate for the election, not as an elected member of the Legislative Assembly.
The claim is false.
