BETTIAH, Oct. 19 -- Famous Bhojpuri actor and singer Khesari Lal Yadav, known for his close association with RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, officially entered the electoral fray as the RJD nominee for the Chapra assembly seat on Saturday. He said he decided to step into politics to rescue Bihar from stagnation, decision paralysis, and poor governance, and to change people's perception of the "jungle raj" during the RJD's rule two decades ago. Speaking to Hindustan Times from Chapra over the phone, Yadav accused the ruling NDA of tarnishing Bihar's image by repeatedly invoking the "jungle raj" and creating a negative perception of the state across the country. "Enough is enough. Aab toh jungle raj kahena chor digiye (Now you should stop harping on jungle raj). Even if there was a jungle raj, what changes have successive regimes brought over the years? Bihar has frozen in time under this regime, and successive governments after 2005 have miserably failed to tackle migration, improve health and education, or provide a vision for development. Instead, they pursue narrow political gains by belittling the work of their predecessors," said Khesari Lal, a native of Chapra who carved a niche as a Bhojpuri actor and singer. "How long will they continue with the hackneyed claim that they are holier than thou?" he asked. An ardent supporter of Lalu Prasad Yadav, Khesari Lal said he joined the RJD because of Lalu's vision of social justice. "Laluji has given a voice to those at the lowest strata of society, inspiring hope and enabling them to fight for their right to live with dignity and rise in life. I have immense respect for Laluji. I could not resist joining his party to contribute to Bihar's development," he said after filing his nomination papers on Friday. Khesari Lal Yadav is a renowned Bhojpuri singer, actor, and model, popular across Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand. His breakthrough came with the Bhojpuri album Maal Bhetai Mela Me, and in 2012, the film Saajan Chale Sasural established him as a rising star. He has appeared in numerous films including Dil Le Gayi Odhaniya Wali (2012), Sapoot (2013), Chhapra Express (2013), Betaab (2014), Haseena Maan Jayegi (2015), Hero No.1 (2015), and Jila Champaran (2017), as well as popular musical albums like Thik Hai. He has also been awarded Best Popular Actor at the Bhojpuri Film Awards (2016), the Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Award, and the UP Ratan Award (2017). Yadav emphasized that it is high time people like him stepped into Bihar politics. "I am an artist, but that's not the bottom line. I have struggled immensely to establish myself. Now I am equipped to serve my people. Instead of being a neta (leader), I want to be their beta (son) and serve my motherland from the heart. There is no reason why Bihar cannot have a thriving film industry, better health and education facilities," Yadav said....