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, just before the first phase of the Bihar elections, marked a significant turning point, escalating local anger and political tensions.

Dular Chand Yadav supported the Jan Suraaj Party candidate Priyadarshi Piyush against rival strongmen Anant Singh (JD-U) and Suraj Bhan (RJD). He was killed on October 30 while campaigning in the Khushal Chak area of the Mokama Assembly constituency. The killing is alleged to have been carried out by associates of Anant Singh, who was later arrested amid mounting fury in the region.

Though Yadav was never an MLA, his influence and the fear he commanded were comparable to that of elected representatives.

Crime and Politics Intertwined in Bihar

This incident highlights the deep-rooted nexus between crime and politics in Bihar, where political violence frequently resurfaces during elections.

“Voting in Bihar is never without bloodshed.”

The violence reflects a long historical pattern linking power struggles to bloodshed — a connection seen from ancient monarchs like Ashok and Aurangzeb to modern political assassinations worldwide.

Bihar Election Timeline

The first phase of voting concluded on November 6, 2025.
Dular Chand Yadav was murdered on October 30, just days before this.
His death intensified political tensions and unrest in the Mokama region.

Context of the Violence

The killing of Yadav underscores how violent clashes between powerful local figures dominate the electoral landscape in Bihar, where strongmen often wield real political power beyond formal titles.

“Though Yadav was never an MLA, his status and fear were no less than that of any MLA.”

The escalating rivalry between candidates backed by these influential figures fuels ongoing conflicts during elections.

Author’s summary: The brutal killing of a regional strongman in Bihar’s elections reveals the entrenched cycle of violence and crime deeply entwined with political power in the state.

Outlook India — 2025-11-09