Inside Bihar’s Violent Elections: When Strongmen Rule the Ballot Box
The murder of 75-year-old Dular Chand Yadav, a feared local strongman from Mokama, has intensified political tensions just before the first phase of the Bihar elections. Yadav, who campaigned for the Jan Suraaj Party candidate Priyadarshi Piyush, was killed on October 30 in the Khushal Chak area.
He supported Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party against rival strongmen Anant Singh (JD-U) and Suraj Bhan (RJD). Allegedly, associates of Anant Singh were behind the killing, which led to Singh’s arrest amid growing public outrage.
Political Violence and Crime Nexus
This tragic incident exposes Bihar's persistent problem where crime and politics intertwine. Political violence has been deeply embedded in the state’s history, repeatedly emerging during elections and disrupting peace.
Historical Reflection on Political Bloodshed
The culture of violence associated with power in Bihar echoes a broader historical pattern. From ancient rulers like Ashoka and Aurangzeb to recent global political assassinations, there is a long-standing link between authority and brutality.
“Voting in Bihar is never without bloodshed.”
Dular Chand Yadav was never an elected MLA, yet his influence and fear were comparable to any legislator, underscoring the power held by non-elected strongmen in the region.
Election Phase and Aftermath
- The first phase of voting in Bihar concluded on November 6.
- Yadav’s murder occurred just a week earlier, during his campaign support for the Jan Suraaj Party.
- The murder has heightened political instability and public anger in the area.
The violence surrounding elections in Bihar reveals a complex reality where muscle and fear often overshadow democratic processes.
“Dular Chand Yadav, an old strongman of the Mokama Assembly constituency, was murdered while campaigning in support of a Jan Suraaj Party candidate.”
Author’s summary: Bihar’s elections are marked by violent power struggles where local strongmen wield significant influence, often overshadowing formal political authority.