In a dramatic triumph amid Bihar’s NDA landslide, incarcerated JD(U) leader Anant Kumar Singh, alias “Chhote Sarkar,” has clinched the Mokama assembly seat by a commanding margin of 28,206 votes. Final counts show Singh securing 91,416 votes against RJD’s Veena Devi’s 63,210, with Jan Suraaj Party’s Priyadarshi Piyush a distant third at around 18,348 votes. The Patna district constituency, which voted on November 6 with 64% turnout, reinforces Singh’s iron grip on this Bhumihar-dominated hotspot despite his ongoing imprisonment.
From Early Leads to Decisive Victory: Singh’s Unstoppable Surge
Counting began at 8 a.m., with postal ballots favoring Singh from the outset. His lead ballooned from 2,716 votes in round one to over 28,000 by the final tally, underscoring unwavering voter loyalty in a seat he’s dominated since 2005. Supporters outside Beur Jail chanted “Jail ka faatak tootega, hamara sher chhootega” (Prison gates will break, our lion will be freed), waving posters and bursting crackers as results poured in.
| Round | Anant Singh (JD(U)) | Veena Devi (RJD) | Priyadarshi Piyush (Jan Suraaj) | Lead Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,716 ahead | Trailing | – | +2,716 |
| 6 | 22,345 | 14,352 | 4,923 | +7,993 |
| 10 | ~50,000+ | Trailing | – | +37,752 |
| Final | 91,416 | 63,210 | 18,348 | +28,206 |
Data from ECI via India Today and Business Standard; total valid votes: ~1.73 lakh.
Bahubali Showdown: Singh vs. Surajbhan’s Legacy
Mokama, part of Munger Lok Sabha, pits two strongman clans: Singh (with 28 criminal cases, including murder and arms convictions) against Veena Devi, wife of rival “Dada” Surajbhan Singh, who ousted him in 2000. Disqualified in 2022 under UAPA, Singh’s wife Neelam held the seat for RJD in the bypoll (53.44% share). Realigning with JD(U) in NDA, he reclaimed it decisively, bucking Mahagathbandhan’s statewide slump (39 seats vs. NDA’s 210+).
Veena, a former LJP MP, mounted a caste-based challenge (Yadav vs. Bhumihar), but NDA’s OBC consolidation and development narrative prevailed. Priyadarshi, Prashant Kishor’s debutant, managed just 12-15% share, highlighting Jan Suraaj’s flop (0 seats overall).
Singh’s win—his sixth here—bolsters Nitish Kumar’s fifth term, with JD(U) at 82 seats. Despite jail time for a Jan Suraaj supporter’s murder, his “Robin Hood” image endures among locals. NDA hails it as anti-“jungle raj” verdict; opposition alleges strongman politics revival.
