Bahubalis, their kin retain foothold in Bihar after election results

While the NDA has decimated the Mahagathbandhan in the Bihar assembly polls, one constant endures: barring a few exceptions, bahubalis and their families continue to dominate the state’s political landscape. This year, over 22 bahubalis and their relatives were in the fray.

From Mokama, Anant Singh, who faces more than 55 cases, including charges of assault, murder and possession of arms, won by over 28,000 votes, defeating Veena Devi, wife of another strongman, Surajbhan Singh. Mokama also saw the first pre-poll violence, with the killing of Dularchand Yadav, who was campaigning for the Jan Suraaj party.

RJD’s Narendra Kumar Singh, alias Bogo Singh, one of Bihar’s most notorious musclemen, won from Matihani. In the Kosi region, he is known for settling political disputes outside official systems, his violent dominance part of local lore.

In Kuchaikote, JD(U)’s Amrendra Kumar Pandey, who faces 14 cases including rioting, attempt to murder and extortion, won for the sixth straight time. Likewise, in Bikram, BJP’s Siddarth Saurav, booked in eight cases, including attempt to murder, secured victory.

Not all such candidates were successful. RJD’s Dewa Gupta, named in 28 cases, seven of them related to attempt to murder, lost from Motihari.

RJD’s Ritlal Yadav, accused in the assassination of BJP leader Satyanarayan Sinha as well as in other extortion and murder cases, including murder of his rival Chunnu Singh, lost Danapur, which he had won in 2020.

Former gangster-turned-politician Munna Shukla’s daughter, Shivani Shukla, also lost from Lalganj.

But political legacies still prevailed in parts of the state. Contesting on the RJD ticket, Osama Shahab, son of former strongman Mohd Shahabuddin, won from Raghunathpur.

Jan Suraaj candidate Sarfaraz Alam, accused in cases of extortion, kidnapping, criminal intimidation and molestation, lost from Araria.

Hulas Pandey, LJP (RV) candidate and an accused in the killing of erstwhile Ranvir Sena chief Brahmeshwar Singh Mukhiya, lost from Brahmapur.

JD(U)’s Radhan Charan Seth, accused in illegal sand mining, won from Sandesh.