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Patna, Oct 16 (IANS) As the political heat rises in Bihar, at the center of it all is Mokama, a constituency long known for its muscle power, legacy politics and fierce loyalty.
For decades, the path to victory here has depended less on party machinery and more on personal influence, local equations and caste balance.
This time the contest has become even more interesting – a one-on-one fight between two powerful political families.
On one side stands former MLA Anant Singh, popularly known as “Chhote Sarkar”, and on the other side stands Surajbhan Singh’s family, represented by his wife and former MP Veena Devi. Surajbhan Singh is known as “Dada” in the political circles of Bihar.
Veena Devi filed her nomination papers at Barh sub-divisional office on Thursday in the presence of senior RJD leaders and hundreds of party workers.
Having received the RJD election symbol on Thursday morning, his candidature marks a new chapter in the volatile political history of Mokama.
The battle lines are now clearly drawn – it is Anant Singh versus Veena Devi, “Chhote Sarkar” versus “Dada’s family”.
Political observers believe that the Mokama conflict could impact the larger political narrative in Bihar.
For the RJD, this contest is about demonstrating its reach across all communities and regaining lost ground in central Bihar.
For Anant Singh, once a powerful leader with cross-party appeal, this election could decide the future of his political relevance.
“This contest is not just about Mokama – it is about prestige, legacy and credibility,” says a Patna-based political analyst.
Mokama has always been the barometer of grassroots politics in Bihar – a mix of influence, loyalty and legacy.
As campaigns heat up, rallies get louder, and local dynamics change, all eyes will be on this decisive, high-profile battlefield.
Whether voters support Anant Singh’s tremendous experience or Veena Devi’s new enthusiasm, the results here are expected to be echoed across the political landscape of Bihar.
Anant Singh is a man whose political and legal journey has been nothing less than dramatic. He contested the 2020 assembly elections on RJD ticket and won from Mokama. However, his tenure was cut short after he was convicted under the Arms Act by the MP-MLA court in Patna and sentenced to 10 years in jail, leading to his disqualification as an MLA.
In the 2022 Mokama by-election, his wife Neelam Devi contested on RJD ticket and successfully retained the seat. But in a political twist, she joined the NDA in February 2024 during the floor test of the Nitish Kumar government. After this, Anant Singh was acquitted in the Arms Act case due to lack of evidence.
However, the controversy resurfaced earlier this year when he was booked in the Nauranga-Jalalpur firing case after a clash with the Sonu-Monu gang.
Recently, before being released on bail, he surrendered and was lodged in Beur jail in Patna. Now, Singh is making a political comeback – this time as a Janata Dal (United) candidate.
Meanwhile, Veena Devi’s husband Surajbhan Singh remains one of the most talked about and controversial figures in central Bihar politics. He won the Mokama assembly election in 2000 as an independent candidate, defeating his former mentor Dilip Singh.
Suraj Bhan, known for his influence in Barh, Mokama and Barhiya, faced more than two dozen criminal cases, including the high-profile murders of Brij Bihari Singh, Begusarai’s Rami Singh and Mokama councilor Ashok Singh.
His gang rivalry with Ashok Samrat was once the most talked about thing in the political circles of Bihar. The 2025 Mokama election is becoming more than a routine contest – it is a showdown of prestige, power and survival.
For Anant Singh, victory means political liberation; For RJD and Veena Devi, it is about reclaiming lost ground and establishing dominance in the political heartland of Bihar.
–IANS
AJK/SKP