Mokama MLA Anant takes oath in assembly under parole

Patna: Strongman-turned-politician Anant Kumar Singh on Tuesday took oath as a member of the Bihar legislative assembly. The JD(U) MLA from Mokama was brought to the state assembly in a prison van to complete the formalities, as he remains in judicial custody and has not been granted bail.

Singh was arrested ahead of last year’s assembly polls in connection with the killing of Dular Chand Yadav, a rival don-turned-politician, at a village in the Mokama assembly constituency. Yadav was supporting a local candidate backed by Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj. With his bail plea still pending, Singh was permitted to attend the House on parole solely for the purpose of taking the oath.


After being sworn in, Singh met assembly speaker Prem Kumar. He then went to chief minister Nitish Kumar and touched his feet. Singh stayed inside the assembly premises for around 10 minutes before leaving under escort to return to prison.

Outside the House, Singh briefly spoke to journalists and used the opportunity to target Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav. Singh, who was earlier associated for a short period with the RJD, claimed that Tejashwi’s political prospects had declined sharply. He said Tejashwi’s “political stock is finished” and suggested that in the next election he might be forced to contest on the symbol of another party.

The episode drew attention for the unusual optics of an elected representative taking oath while in custody, and for Singh’s pointed remarks amid Bihar’s charged political atmosphere.