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Former Bihar MLA and Janata Dal (United) candidate Anant Singh was arrested late on Saturday night in connection with the murder of Dularchand Yadav, a supporter of the Jan Suraaj party. The arrest, confirmed by Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya Sharma, sends shockwaves through the political landscape of poll-bound Bihar, particularly in the notoriously volatile Mokama constituency. The case pertains to the killing of 75-year-old Dularchand Yadav, a local strongman and former RJD leader, who was attacked on Thursday, October 30, while campaigning for the Jan Suraaj candidate, Piyush Priyadarshi, in the Mokama Tal area. The incident followed a violent clash between rival political groups. VIDEO | PATNA: Mokama JD(U) candidate Anant Kumar Singh has been arrested along with two associates, Manikant Thakur and Ranjit Ram, from Bedna village in connection with a serious election code violation, officials said in a late night press conference. Patna DM Dr.… pic.twitter.com/37TBlnSpI7 — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 1, 2025 An FIR filed by Yadav’s grandson directly named Anant Singh, his nephews, and others as the accused. Initial reports suggested Yadav was shot, but the subsequent post-mortem report confirmed his death was due to cardiorespiratory failure caused by a ruptured lung and multiple rib fractures, indicating he was crushed or run over by a vehicle after sustaining a non-fatal gunshot wound to the ankle. Police stated that Singh’s arrest, along with two associates, was based on evidence, eyewitness accounts, and the post-mortem findings, as the incident occurred in the candidate’s presence. Jan Suraaj Party’s candidate from Mokama, Piyush Priyadarshi, in a telephonic conversation with ANI, said, “This is a good gesture, but it would have been good had they taken action sooner. Today, he was moving around in a convoy of 50 vehicles and even participated in election campaigning. When an FIR was registered against him, he should have been arrested sooner… But better late than never. What is important now is how the police investigate the whole case… It is a relief for his family.” Anant Singh, popularly known as “Chhote Sarkar”, is a powerful figure and a multi-term former MLA from Mokama. His re-entry into the electoral fray, contesting on a ticket from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), had already made the constituency a flashpoint. Mokama, which votes on November 6, has a history of clashes driven by caste politics and rivalries between powerful bahubalis (strongmen). Singh’s principal opponent is Veena Devi, wife of rival strongman Surajbhan Singh, who is contesting on a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) ticket. Dularchand Yadav, a Yadav chieftain, was a historical rival to the Singh family, who belong to the Bhumihar caste, adding a deep-seated layer of personal and caste rivalry to the current political battle. The murder, Bihar’s first poll-related killing this season, has put the JD(U) and the ruling coalition under immense pressure. The opposition RJD, led by Tejashwi Yadav, immediately condemned the violence, questioning the state’s law and order machinery. Taking a firm stand, the Election Commission of India (ECI) swiftly ordered the suspension and transfer of multiple local officials, including the Patna Rural SP and the Mokama Returning Officer, citing lapses in maintaining the Model Code of Conduct. Anant Singh’s arrest, carried out in a massive late-night operation involving over 150 police personnel, highlights the administration’s seriousness in addressing pre-poll violence, but it severely complicates the JD(U)’s campaign in this crucial constituency just ahead of voting.
