Inside Bihar’s Violent Elections: When Strongmen Rule the Ballot Box
The murder of 75-year-old Dular Chand Yadav, a feared strongman from Mokama, occurred just before the first phase of the Bihar elections and marked a major turning point, escalating local anger and political tensions.
Dular Chand Yadav, who backed the Jan Suraaj Party candidate Priyadarshi Piyush against rival strongmen Anant Singh (JD-U) and Suraj Bhan (RJD), was killed on October 30 while campaigning in Khushal Chak under Bhadaur police station jurisdiction. His death is alleged to have been orchestrated by associates of Anant Singh, leading to Singh’s arrest amid growing unrest in the region.
Crime and Politics Intertwined in Bihar
This incident exposes the deep-rooted nexus between crime and politics in Bihar, where political violence has long been part of the state's election landscape. Such clashes between local strongmen often flare up during electoral periods.
Historical Context of Political Violence
The culture of political bloodshed in Bihar reflects a historical pattern of power struggles linked with violence, spanning from ancient rulers like Ashok and Aurangzeb to contemporary political assassinations worldwide. This connection between authority and brutality is an enduring theme in politics.
Recent Electoral Violence
- Voting in Bihar is rarely peaceful and is frequently marked by violent incidents.
- The first phase of voting concluded on November 6, following the murder of Dular Chand Yadav on October 30.
- Despite never holding the position of MLA, Yadav’s influence and notoriety in Mokama matched that of elected officials.
“Yadav was never an MLA, but his status and fear were no less than that of any MLA.”
This tragic event highlights the persistent challenges Bihar faces with election-related violence fueled by local power struggles.
Author’s summary: The brutal killing of a local strongman before Bihar’s elections underscores the ongoing, entrenched cycle of political violence and crime entangling the state’s democratic processes.