Tiwari was born on 1 February 1971 in Kabir Nagar Churaha, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. He started his career as a singer and actor in the Bhojpuri film industry. He has acted in over 100 films and has sung over 500 songs. In 2009, he contested the Lok Sabha elections as a Samajwadi Party candidate from Gorakhpur but lost to Yogi Adityanath.

In 2014, Tiwari joined the BJP and contested the Lok Sabha elections from the North East Delhi constituency. He won the election by a margin of over 3 lakh votes. He was re-elected in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and again in 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Manoj Tiwari was the Delhi BJP chief from 2016 to 2020. He was appointed to the post after BJP's defeat in the 2015 Delhi Assembly elections. Tiwari was seen as a popular figure who could help the BJP connect with the masses. He was also seen as a strong leader who could take on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Tiwari's tenure as Delhi BJP chief was marked by both successes and failures. He helped the BJP win the 2017 MCD elections, but the party lost the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections.