NDA’s ‘jungle raj’ candidate? Interview with Bihar strongman Anant Singh

In this ground report from Mokama constituency in Bihar, Sreenivasan Jain speaks to JDU’s strongman candidate Anant Singh and his supporters to understand why the bahubali politician continues to thrive, despite Prime Minister Modi’s recent claim that the NDA has ended the ‘Jungle Raj’ of the Lalu Prasad years.

Asked about the pending cases of murder, kidnapping, and attempt to murder against him, Anant Singh dismisses them, saying he has never been convicted and was acquitted in the only case in which he was convicted. His supporters echo this sentiment, calling the charges false and politically motivated. On jobs, Singh bluntly says that there are no jobs being created in Bihar. His supporters agreed, pointing out that factories in the region had closed down. When asked why they continue to vote for Singh despite the lack of improvement in employment for the youth, a group of supporters replied that they were Bhumihars – upper caste landlords, the same caste as Anant Singh. They vote for him, they say, because he ‘defends their honour’.

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