Patna, May 6, 2024: A day after Bahubali leader Anant Singh was released on a 15-day parole, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar surprised many by praising him during an election rally in the Pandarak block under the Munger Lok Sabha constituency on Monday.
Nitish Kumar highlighted his long association with Singh’s family:
Mokama MLA Neelam Devi, wife of Anant Singh, was present on the stage as Nitish Kumar recalled his long association with the Singh family.
I have an old relationship with her husband, Anant Singh. His father used to come regularly to meet my family. He also respected me a lot,” Nitish Kumar said, drawing loud cheers from from audience.
In his speech, Nitish Kumar also reflected on his past political realignments, admitting that his two stints with the Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) were mistakes.
“In between, I went to the other side twice. I made mistakes. When I realized that those people were involved in wrongdoings to earn money, I returned to the old alliance,” Kumar said, emphasizing that the NDA does not indulge in nepotism.
“I always said that the people of the entire Bihar are my family,” he added.
Anant Singh, who was convicted under the Arms Act and sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Patna MP-MLA court, was released on Sunday morning after the Bihar government’s Home Department approved his parole on court direction.
Lalan Singh is contesting against Anita Devi of RJD:
His release has electrified the political atmosphere in Munger, where JDU candidate Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh is pitted against RJD’s Anita Devi, wife of another Bahubali leader, Ashok Mahto.
The contest has now turned into a battle between two musclemen’s camps.
Shortly after his release, Anant Singh declared his full support for Lalan Singh, claiming, “Lalan Singh will win the Lok Sabha election with a margin of five lakh votes.”
Meanwhile, Ashok Mahto has been campaigning aggressively for his wife Anita Devi, whom he married shortly before the election to bring her into the political fray.
The Munger Lok Sabha constituency will vote in the fourth phase on May 13, along with Darbhanga, Ujiyarpur, Samastipur (SC reserved), and Begusarai.
With both Bahubali camps flexing their political muscles, Munger is shaping up to be one of the most intense and closely watched contests of the 2025 Bihar Lok Sabha elections.
Also Read: Nitish Kumar targeted Lalu Prasad Yadav for promoting dynastic politics.
EOM.