A violent clash between political convoys in Mokama, Bihar, on Thursday afternoon left a 75-year-old political figure dead and over a dozen injured. The incident occurred when supporters of Jan Suraaj candidate Piyush Priyadarshi and JD(U) candidate Anant Singh met at a village crossing near Basawan Chak in Taratar village. Stone-pelting escalated into gunfire, and Dularchand Yadav was shot and then run over by a vehicle. The Election Commission has demanded a report from the Bihar police, and four FIRs have been registered. Mokama, known as the 'Capital of Bhumihars', has a long history of crime and politics intertwining. The constituency has rarely elected representatives without criminal records since 1952. This latest violence underscores the deep-rooted nexus between muscle power, caste dominance, and electoral politics in one of Bihar's most volatile regions.
Dularchand Yadav's Criminal and Political Journey
Dularchand Yadav's political career was marked by numerous criminal cases dating back to 1991, when he was accused in the murder of Congress worker Sitaram Singh alongside Anant Singh's brother and Nitish Kumar. While Nitish and Dularchand were later cleared, his record grew to include 11 criminal cases by 2010, covering murder, kidnapping, extortion, and firearm violations. A rare non-Bhumihar leader in Bhumihar-dominated Mokama, Dularchand rose through Lalu Prasad's patronage in the 1990s. He maintained ties with Anant Singh for years, but tensions flared after he switched loyalty to Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj party. His campaigning for Jan Suraaj candidate Priyadarshi and public criticism of Anant Singh worsened relations, culminating in Thursday's deadly confrontation.
Anant Singh and Surajbhan Singh: Mokama's Bahubali Rivalry
Anant Singh, known as 'Chote Sarkar', has dominated Mokama politics since 2005, holding the seat under different party banners despite facing over 50 criminal charges since 1979. His affidavit in 2020 listed 38 cases. In 2022, he was convicted under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and sentenced to 10 years, leading to disqualification. His wife Neelam Devi won the bypoll on an RJD ticket. Anant Singh was acquitted by the Patna High Court in 2024, allowing his return. Meanwhile, rival bahubali Surajbhan Singh, with 26 criminal cases including murder convictions, remains barred from contesting. His wife Veena Devi is the RJD candidate challenging Anant Singh, continuing decades of rivalry that has shaped Mokama's violent political landscape.
Source: Link