Partners In Crime

You want ballot or bullet, I have both." That’s how coal and iron-scrap mafia don Manoranjan Singh alias Dhumal Singh announced his candidature from Baniapur assembly seat of Maharajganj. Singh has been eluding the police of Bihar, UP, Delhi and Mumbai for the last 22 years, with 174 criminal cases against him. Yet, Dhumal Singh was at his arrogant best as he conducted a ‘secret’ press meet just under the nose of Patna’s Kotwali police station.

Like him, there is a record number of about two dozen underworld dons fighting elections in Bihar. And virtually every political party is fielding them. Heading the list is Suraj Bhan Singh, fighting from Mokama under Barh parliamentary constituency, represented by Union agriculture minister Nitish Kumar. Known as "Dadu" among his cronies, Suraj Bhan is currently in jail in connection with several murder and kidnapping cases.

Also serving time are Rajan Tiwari, Munna Shukla and Captain Sunil, the key accused in the murder of former Bihar minister Brij Bihari Prasad. Tiwari has staked his claim to the Gobindpur assembly seat. Shukla and Captain Sunil have opted for Lalganj in Vaishali and Central Patna respectively. Shukla, now in Hajipur jail in connection with over half-a-dozen murder cases against him, has the tacit backing of the Samata Party.

Another inmate of Hajipur jail fighting the election is Rama Singh. Involved in several cases including murder and extortion, he’s contesting from Mahnar on a JD(u) ticket. Singh is said to be quite close to Ram Vilas Paswan but denies that his links with the minister got him his ticket.

Crimelord Malkhan Singh has been fielded by the BJP against another history-sheeter, Upendra Singh alias Mastan, who’s been given a Congress ticket. Other candidates with a past include Sunil Pandey, representing the Samata from Piro, and Surendra Yadav, standing from Belaganj.

The RJD has given tickets to two of its ministers who have been declared "absconders". Dilip Singh, the relief and rehabilitation minister, is on the campaign trail. Buildings minister Lal Babu Prasad Rai, accused in the Rs 3-crore hudco scam, is also testing his luck at the hustings. But will Bihar’s fate change?