As the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) heads towards a likely victory in the Bihar Assembly Elections, all eyes are on Mokama, where Anant Kumar Singh, also known as "Bahubali" and "Chhote Sarkar," is poised to win. Singh, a candidate for the Janata Dal (United), is currently in jail on a murder charge. The question on everyone's mind: Can he become an MLA despite his incarceration?
Anant Singh's political career has been controversial. He has a long history of criminal cases against him, including charges related to murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, and extortion. According to his election affidavit of 2020, he was facing 38 criminal charges, including 7 murders, 11 attempts to murder, and 4 cases of kidnapping. Patna High Court documents have stated that there have been as many as 52 cases against him. Despite this alarming history, Singh has only recently faced major convictions. In 2022, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for a 2015 case involving the recovery of an INSAS rifle and other weapons. The same year, he was also convicted in the 2019 AK-47 recovery case, which also included charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). However, he was recently acquitted by the Patna High Court, allowing him to make an immediate political comeback on a JD(U) ticket for the current election.
Singh's political journey has seen him associated with various parties. A former member of the Janata Dal (United) (JDU) party, he joined Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in 2020. In the 2020 polls, Anant Singh, representing the RJD, triumphed with over 78,000 votes. However, she switched sides to JDU when it left Mahagathbandhan again in 2024. Singh has been a dominant force in Mokama, winning the seat multiple times. He retained the seat in 2010, until he quit the JD(U) after his arrest in the abduction and murder case of 2015 and Nitish Kumar's alliance with the RJD. However, he contested from Mokama constituency as an independent candidate and defeated Neeraj Kumar of his former party. In the last assembly polls in 2020, Singh joined hands with Lalu Yadav's RJD.
Most recently, Anant Singh was arrested in connection with the killing of Jan Suraaj supporter Dular Chand Yadav. The FIR registered in connection with the killing of Dularchand accuses Anant Singh of shooting at him, before he was thrashed by others and then run over with an SUV. Anant Singh was arrested along with two of his aides, Manikant Thakur and Ranjit Ram and were remanded by a Patna court to 14-day judicial custody.
Despite his criminal record and current incarceration, Anant Singh remains a popular figure in Mokama. He is known as a strongman who has leveraged muscle power to enforce political will in a region prone to caste-based conflict. Mokama is known as the 'Capital of Bhumihars'. The upper-caste Bhumihars forming the largest group at around 85000 voters. Some analysts believe that his arrest may consolidate the Bhumihar vote behind him.
As the NDA celebrates its likely victory in Bihar, the focus will be on whether Anant Singh can defy the odds and become an MLA while behind bars. The law allows for individuals to contest elections even if they are incarcerated, but their ability to participate in assembly proceedings is restricted. The final decision on whether Anant Singh can take office will likely depend on the court's ruling and the specific conditions of his imprisonment.
Meanwhile, celebrations have already begun in anticipation of Anant Singh's victory. At Anant Singh's home in Patna, preparations are underway, with 2 lakh gulab jamuns, hundreds of rasgullas and an entire feast being cooked as supporters get ready to celebrate Anant Singh's victory.
