How Mokama became a battlefield when small government and Young Turks came face to face:

News India Live, Digital Desk: Mokama Assembly Election : As soon as the name of Mokama comes in the politics of Bihar, stories of guns, muscle power and dominance automatically come to mind. This is an area where elections have sometimes been fought more on the whims of ‘bullet’ than on the ballot. And this 2025 assembly election is no different from this. This time the political arena of Mokama is burning with a direct clash between two such strongmen, whose conflict has turned the elections into a ‘bloody war’.

On one side, there are those in jail, but those who have a strong hold on the area. ‘Small Government’ Anant Singhwhose wife Neelam Devi is contesting on RJD ticket. On the other hand, there are those considered close to JDU’s strong leader Lalan Singh. Piyush Kumar,

When and how did this ‘war’ start?

During the election campaign, this political rivalry turned into a bloody conflict when Anant Singh’s convoy and Piyush Kumar’s supporters came face to face in Pandarak area. Within no time, the altercation between the two groups turned into abuse and then fighting. The situation worsened so much that bullets started firing in the middle of the road, creating an atmosphere of panic in the entire area.

This was not just an electoral clash, but an open war to establish dominance over the area.

Why is there so much tension in Mokama?

To understand the politics of Mokama, it is important to understand the muscle power and caste equations here.

1. Anant Singh’s stronghold: Anant Singh has been another name in the politics of Mokama for the last several decades. Despite being in jail, his ‘small government’ image still persists in the area. His supporters see him like ‘Robin Hood’. For them, Mokama is not just a seat, but a question of their ‘respect’.
2. Lalan Singh’s reputation: On the other hand, Piyush Kumar has the full support of JDU national president Lalan Singh. Lalan Singh also comes from this area and for him it has become a question of prestige to breach this impenetrable fort of Anant Singh. He wants to prove by winning the Mokama seat at any cost that Anant Singh’s era is over in the area.
3. Caste game and old accounts: The equation of Bhumihar versus other castes has always been dominant in Mokama. Both sides are making every effort to solve this caste equation and make a dent in each other’s vote bank. Apart from this, the old enmity between the two groups is also adding fuel to this electoral battle.

The Election Commission has deployed a large number of security forces in the area and every activity is being monitored. But seeing the tension on the ground, local people fear that this spark can turn into a big fire any time till the day of voting. This time the elections are being held in Mokama not just to elect the MLA, but to decide who will be the next ‘government’ of the area.