Role of muscle, caste and money in Bihar politics

As the Bihar elections are approaching, Bhoopendra Dubey, Deputy News Coordinator, ETV Bharat in his article explains the role played by power in the politics of the state. Dubey explains how Anand Mohan and Pappu Yadav alias Rajesh Ranjan, the two names from Bihar's Kosi region, who were synonymous with political terror took a plunge in electoral politics.

Patna (Bihar): Power of money, muscle and caste has always played a prominent role in Bihar politics. Those rich and powerful have always entered the Bihar assembly as per their own whims and fancies. All political parties have also loved to welcome them to their fold. During the 1980s, muscle men used to be synonymous with Bihar politics. They used to be satraps of their respective areas and used to rule the roost not only in their respective areas but also in the government.

They also used to be the source of hope for other contenders, which means that others cannot win their elections if these musclemen or mafias do not support them.

During the 1980s, Anand Mohan and Pappu Yadav alias Rajesh Ranjan were the two names from Bihar's Kosi region, who were synonymous with political terror. Anand Mohan was an unchallenged authority in the Kosi region, while Pappu Yadav was active in Saharsa, Madhepura and Purnea.

However, things underwent a sea change. These people got the protection of all leaders including Lalu Prasad Yadav, Nitish Kumar and Ram Vilas Paswan. Slowly and steadily, they themselves took a plunge in electoral politics.

Earlier they used to capture booths for others, but in due course of time, they themselves became leaders. It was the time when Bihar saw the emergence of Anand Mohan Singh, a self-styled muscleman and politician.

There was a time when the RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav himself was scared of visiting the area of Anand Mohan. People were so terrified of him, but he fell prey to political conspiracies and lost the course he was charting so diligently but differently.

In 1983, Anand Mohan first went to jail for three months. In 1990, he won the Assembly poll from Maheshi by over 62,000 votes. He had fought the poll on the ticket of the Janata Dal. However, he could not continue in the Janata Dal for long and formed his own party called Bihar People’s Party (BPP). He joined hands with the Samata Party, led by leaders like George Fernandes and Nitish Kumar.

Meanwhile, Anand Mohan expanded his contacts. In the politically changed scenario due to the Mandal Commission, he was getting closer to the musclemen, mostly from the upper castes. One of them was Chhotan Shukla, who was killed in Muzaffarpur.

The crowd, which was part of Shukla’s funeral procession, attacked then Gopalganj District Magistrate D Krishnaiya and killed him. Anand Mohan was the key accused in the case. He was charged with inciting the crowd for inflicting a murderous attack on the IAS officer.

Then Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav played a key role in sending Anand Mohan to jail as Yadav wanted to establish his own political clout in the north Bihar. In 1996, Anand Mohan won the election from the jail from Sheohar Lok Sabha seat by over 40,000 votes. But after that, he kept losing the poll.

The lower court sentenced him to death in 2007 in connection with the murder of the District Magistrate. He challenged the order in the Patna High Court, which converted his sentencing to life imprisonment, which was also withheld by the Supreme Court. Lalu Prasad Yadav was held responsible for all this.

However, in politics, no one is either a permanent friend or an enemy. Former Prime Minister late Chandrasekhar played a role in ending the enmity between two families.

Now the family of Anand Mohan has thrown its weight behind that of Lalu Prasad Yadav, whose party has given a ticket to the wife and son of Anand Mohan for the ensuing Assembly polls. His wife Lovely Anand, a former MP, will contest the poll from Saharsa, while his son Chetan Anand will fight from Sheohar assembly seat. Two dreaded political enemies of yesteryears have now come together, all thanks to the power of politics.

The RJD is currently led by Tejashwi Yadav, the younger son. Chetan Anand is ready to join hands with any party who helps him get his father out of jail.

The way political equations are fast changing in Bihar, one will have to wait for the people’s mandate in Kosi region, particularly in view of the development and good governance plank of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It is, however, crystal clear that the power of money and muscle still has a role to play in Bihar politics along with that of caste and religion. On November 10, we will come to know about the people’s verdict.

However, one thing is clear that the politics of hatred between two families has come to an end and they have begun a new inning on a fresh note. How fruitful and lasting is this only time will decide.