Janata Dal United (JD(U)) candidate Anant Singh, often described as a political strongman or 'bahubali', has emerged victorious in the Mokama assembly constituency of Bihar. Singh, currently in custody following his arrest on 2 November in connection with the murder of Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) supporter Dular Singh Yadav, defeated Veena Devi of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) by a margin of nearly 30,000 votes. Priyadarshi Piyush of the JSP finished a distant third.

Singh, who has 28 criminal cases registered against him, made his assembly debut in 2005 and has retained Mokama multiple times, contesting under different political banners including JD(U), RJD, and as an Independent. After his 2022 conviction in an arms case, his wife Neelam Devi retained the seat in a subsequent bye-election.

Posters anticipating Singh’s release have appeared across his constituency, and supporters have prepared large-scale celebrations, including distributing sweets outside his residence. His repeated electoral success underscores his enduring influence in Mokama despite legal controversies.

The Mokama constituency recorded a voter turnout of 64% on 6 November. Singh is in jail for his alleged involvement in the murder of Dular Singh Yadav, who died from cardiorespiratory failure caused by trauma to the heart and lungs inflicted by a blunt object during campaigning for JSP candidate Priyadarshi Piyush.

Despite multiple criminal cases and imprisonment, Singh’s electoral dominance continues, illustrating the influence of ‘bahubali’ politicians in Bihar. Preparations by his supporters for celebrations ahead of his release further highlight the strong backing he maintains in the region.