Bihar’s political landscape has once again witnessed an intense debate over strongman politicians. JDU MLA from Mokama and controversial strongman leader Anant Singh is set to take oath as a Member of the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. The path for his oath-taking was cleared after the Patna Civil Court granted him special permission, even as he remains lodged in jail in connection with the Dular Chand Yadav murder case.
As per the court’s order, Anant Singh will be brought from jail to the Bihar Assembly premises under tight security arrangements. Immediately after completing the oath-taking formalities, he will be sent back to jail. The administration has been issued special instructions to ensure law and order during the process.
Anant Singh is currently in judicial custody in the Dular Chand Yadav murder case. He contested the Mokama Assembly seat while remaining in jail and emerged victorious. Despite winning the election, he had been unable to take the oath as an MLA until now. With the court’s approval, the oath-taking process will finally be completed.
Welcoming the court’s decision, JDU spokesperson Naval Sharma said that Anant Singh was elected as an MLA on the party’s ticket and is legally entitled to take the oath.
“Permission has been granted by the court. The party respects the court’s decision, and Anant Singh also respects the rule of law,” Sharma said.
Anant Singh has been elected to the Bihar Legislative Assembly for the fifth time and has been active in politics continuously since 2005. Of the total 243 seats in the Bihar Assembly, oath-taking has already been completed for 242 MLAs. Anant Singh was the only legislator whose oath was pending, which will now be administered on February 3.
During the Assembly elections, violence erupted in the Mokama region, leading to the death of Dular Chand Yadav. He was campaigning in support of Jan Suraj Party candidate Piyush Priyadarshi. During this period, a clash broke out between supporters of Anant Singh and those of the rival group, resulting in incidents of assault and firing.
Initially, Dular Chand Yadav’s death was attributed to gunshot injuries, but the post-mortem report later revealed that the bullet had struck his leg. According to the report, a forceful blow from a heavy object to his back caused multiple rib fractures, leading to a ruptured lung and ultimately cardio-respiratory failure.
The victim’s family members and supporters alleged that Anant Singh’s supporters ran over Dular Chand Yadav with a vehicle, killing him. Anant Singh was named the prime accused in the case.
On November 2, Anant Singh along with two of his supporters was arrested, and he has remained in jail since then.
A jailed MLA arriving at the Assembly to take the oath has once again raised questions about the nexus between politics and crime in Bihar. While the court order permits the oath-taking, the induction of a public representative facing serious criminal charges has become a subject of political and ethical debate.
