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Patna/Mokama: The Mokama Assembly seat, one of Bihar’s most high-profile and hotly contested constituencies, is witnessing intense voting activity this morning. With tight security arrangements in place, voters have begun casting their ballots amidst heightened political tension.
The contest has gained particular attention following the murder of Jan Suraj Party supporter Dular Chand Yadav, which has intensified the rivalry between Anant Singh, currently in jail, and Veena Devi, wife of Surajbhan Singh. After Anant Singh’s imprisonment, his wife Neelam Devi took charge of campaigning, and her influence is visible in the ongoing voting trends.
Historical and Political Context
Mokama has a long history of being dominated by strongmen: from Shyam Sundar Singh Dheeraj in the 1980s, Dilip Singh in the 1990s, to Surajbhan Singh in 2000, and Anant Singh from 2005. In the 2025 elections, a direct face-off is expected between RJD’s Surajbhan Singh and JDU’s Anant Singh, reviving the historic strongman rivalry.
The recent political climate has made the election highly sensitive. Initially predicted as a triangular contest, the seat has now transformed into a polarized battle between upper-caste and backward-caste voters. RJD’s traditional support base includes Yadavs, Muslims, and some Dalit communities, whereas NDA primarily relies on upper-caste, Vaishya, Kushwaha, and Kurmi voters.
Key Voting Dynamics
Backward-caste groups such as Dhanuk, Kurmi, and Dalits are likely to play a decisive role, potentially acting as kingmakers in this election. The NDA faces the challenge of reclaiming votes from Paswan voters who shifted in 2020, while the Mahagathbandhan is focusing on consolidating Dalit and other backward-caste votes.
The Mokama election this year is no longer just a routine legislative contest; it has become a symbolic battle between strongman legacy politics and the forces of social harmony and development. RJD hopes to capitalize on the upper-caste-Yadav-Muslim-Dalit voting coalition, while the NDA relies on upper-caste, Vaishya, Paswan, and extremely backward caste votes. The impact of Dular Chand Yadav’s murder and the legacy of the strongmen adds layers of unpredictability to this contest. Ultimately, the electorate’s decision will determine whether Mokama continues its legacy of strongman politics or embraces social cohesion and development-focused governance.
Voting Live Updates
- 7:00 AM: Voting commenced across Mokama. Voters are arriving steadily at polling stations. Women voters are particularly visible in the morning. Security arrangements are stringent, and provisions for drinking water and voter selfies are in place at all booths.
Current Voting Percentage: 26.8%
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