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The case pertains to the killing of Dularchand Yadav, a local strongman and former RJD leader from poll-bound Bihar
Anant Kumar Singh has been a dominant figure in Mokama politics since the 1990s. (Image: X / @MLA_AnantSingh)
Anant Kumar Singh, arrested late on Saturday night in connection with a murder case, is one of Bihar’s most enduring and controversial political figures, a quintessential “bahubali” whose life story is inextricably linked with the volatile history of the Mokama assembly constituency. Born in Nadwan village, Singh is a strongman from the influential Bhumihar community, a background that has been instrumental in his political rise and decades-long dominance of the area. He first cemented his political legacy by winning the Mokama seat in 2005 on a Janata Dal (United) ticket, beginning a nearly two-decade-long tenure that has seen him win five consecutive elections, often under different party banners, including as an Independent and with the Rashtriya Janata Dal, before his most recent return to the JD(U). His elder brother, Dilip Singh, had previously held the seat, and the family’s iron grip on Mokama has been one of the defining features of Bihar’s political narrative since the 1990s.
Singh is known universally by the moniker “Chhote Sarkar” (Little Lord), a name that reflects his formidable political and criminal authority in the region, an influence that, observers say, often overshadows the state administration itself. His public persona is a blend of the feared and the flamboyant; he is known for his eccentric lifestyle, which reportedly includes maintaining an extensive collection of livestock, from expensive horses to a pet python, and preferring to conduct his movements in an antique buggy rather than a modern car. His wealth is substantial, with a recent election affidavit listing assets exceeding Rs 37 crore for himself, and his wife’s assets pushing the combined family wealth even higher, against which he also declared significant liabilities.
The most notable aspect of Anant Singh’s profile is his extensive and serious criminal record. His election affidavits have historically listed dozens of criminal cases, including charges related to murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, and extortion, reflecting a history of leveraging muscle power to enforce political will in a region prone to caste-based conflict. Despite this alarming history, he has only recently faced major convictions; a conviction under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in 2022 led to his disqualification from the assembly, though he was recently acquitted by the Patna High Court, paving the way for his immediate political comeback on a JD(U) ticket for the current election. Even while incarcerated, his influence remained so potent that his wife, Neelam Devi, successfully contested and won the subsequent by-election, demonstrating the unshakeable loyalty of his support base.
His latest arrest in connection with the murder of Jan Suraaj supporter Dularchand Yadav marks a significant, yet familiar, turn in his controversial career. It immediately plunges the Mokama election into further chaos, highlighting the entrenched nature of the criminal-politician nexus in Bihar and bringing the decades-long rivalry between his faction and other local strongmen, particularly the family of his Bhumihar rival Surajbhan Singh, to a violent head once more. His ability to navigate criminal charges, shift political alliances—including his current, albeit challenged, partnership with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar—and consistently win elections underscores his status not merely as a strongman, but as a political phenomenon in the volatile heartland of Bihar.
Pathikrit Sen Gupta is a Senior Associate Editor with News18.com and likes to cut a long story short. He writes sporadically on Politics, Sports, Global Affairs, Space, Entertainment, And Food. He trawls X via …Read More
Pathikrit Sen Gupta is a Senior Associate Editor with News18.com and likes to cut a long story short. He writes sporadically on Politics, Sports, Global Affairs, Space, Entertainment, And Food. He trawls X via … Read More
November 02, 2025, 07:00 IST
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