In the first phase of Bihar elections, voting is being held on 121 seats in 18 districts. This phase is special because of the presence of 9 powerful leaders or their family members in the fray. The contest has become interesting on many high-profile seats like Mokama, Danapur.
Patna: In the first phase of Bihar Assembly Elections 2025, voting has started at 7 am today, November 6, on 121 assembly seats in 18 districts. In this phase, a total of 9 powerful leaders or their family members are trying their luck in the election field, due to which many seats have become very high-profile. The eyes of the entire state are fixed on this electoral battle of the bullies. The results of the voting, which is being held amid tight security arrangements, will come on November 14.
Mokama: One-on-one battle for the hottest seat
Mokama seat is being considered as the hottest seat in the first phase. After the murder of Dularchand Yadav, two powerful families are facing each other on this seat. Strong leader Anant Singh is contesting from this seat on JDU ticket. In front of him, RJD has fielded Veena Devi, wife of strongman Surajbhan Singh, in the electoral arena. This clash has become a question of prestige for Mokama’s political supremacy.
Danapur: Jailed Dabangg vs former Union Minister
The contest is tough on Danapur Assembly seat, where a strong candidate is challenging the former Union Minister from jail. RJD has given ticket to strongman Ritlal Yadav against veteran BJP leader Ramkripal Yadav. Ritlal Yadav was an accused in the murder case of BJP leader Satyanarayan Sinha and is currently accused of demanding extortion of Rs 50 lakh, due to which he is in jail. The local hold of Ritlal, who won from jail last time, is considered strong even today.
Dynasty of bullies: legacy of Shahabuddin, Prabhunath and Munna Shukla
In this phase, the families of many powerful leaders are carrying forward their political legacy. From Raghunathpur seat, RJD has given ticket to Osama Shahab, son of late Bahubali and former MP Shahabuddin. London-educated Osama is trying to carry on his father’s political legacy. JDU has fielded Vikas Kumar Singh against him. At the same time, JDU candidate from Manjhi seat Randhir Singh is the son of Bahubali and former MP Prabhunath Singh, who is currently serving a jail sentence in a murder case. Apart from this, Bahubali Munna Shukla’s daughter Shivani Shukla is RJD candidate from Lalganj seat.
Other prominent candidates with controversial backgrounds
- Dominant candidates are also in power on Brahmapur, Kuchaikot and Ekma seats:
- Hulas Pandey (Brahmapur, LJP): Hulas Pandey is contesting from Brahmapur seat on LJP (Ram Vilas) ticket. He is the brother of muscleman Sunil Pandey and is also accused of the murder of Ranveer Sena chief Brahmeshwar Mukhiya.
- Amarendra alias Pappu Pandey (Kuchaykot, JDU): Amarendra alias Pappu Pandey, one of the famous strongman leaders of Bihar, is trying his luck on JDU ticket from Kuchaykot seat of Gopalganj district.
- Manoranjan alias Dhumal Singh (Ekma, LJP): Manoranjan Singh, locally known as Dhumal Singh, is the LJP candidate from Ekma seat in Saran district, who has previously been an MLA from this area.
With today’s voting, the political future of these 1314 candidates will be recorded in the EVMs, in which special attention will be kept on these nine strongmen and their families.