Bihar's political landscape has long witnessed the heavy influence of strongmen. In the upcoming General Elections, several such figures, who are ineligible to contest themselves, have revealed a new strategy: they are backing their wives as candidates to fulfill their Parliament dreams.
In this electoral battle, it's fascinating to see that while the strongmen's wives are in the limelight as candidates, the reality is that these politicians are the ones pulling the strings from behind.
Lovely Anand (JDU)
Lovely Anand, wife of the once influential leader Anand Mohan, is the Janata Dal United's candidate from Sheohar constituency. Anand Mohan was elected as MP from Sheohar in 1996 and 1998.
Source: aajtak
Released from jail last April, Anand savored freedom after legislative modifications by the Nitish Kumar government. He served time for his involvement in the assassination of Gopalganj DM G. Krishnaiah back in 1994. Ineligible to contest himself, he's now supporting his wife Lovely's political journey under the JDU banner.
In 2019, Lovely contested on an RJD ticket but faced defeat. This time, switching sides to JDU, she's back in the race from Sheohar as the General Elections approach.
Sheohar's election is in the sixth phase.
Bima Bharti (RJD)
Bima Bharti, married to the notorious Avadhesh Mandal, is contesting from the Purnia Lok Sabha seat with an RJD ticket. Mandal, with numerous allegations of murder and kidnapping, is known for his muscle power in politics. Bima, a five-time MLA, recently resigned from JDU and joined RJD to contest the ongoing elections.
Source: aajtak
Purnia votes in the second phase.
Vijayalakshmi Devi (JDU)
Vijayalakshmi Devi, wife of strongman Ramesh Singh Kushwaha, is the JDU candidate from the Siwan seat. Kushwaha, a former CPI ML affiliate and the main suspect in the Shivji Dubey homicide, is propelling his spouse's campaign. Vijayalakshmi steps into the electoral ring as her husband, an ex-legislator, sidelines due to his past.
Source: aajtak
Kavita Singh, the incumbent JDU MP and wife of another strongman, Ajay Singh, was replaced by Vijayalakshmi as the candidate for Siwan by Nitish Kumar's decision. Siwan goes to polls in the sixth phase.
Anita Kumari (RJD)
Joining the fray for the RJD from Munger is Anita Kumari, married to Ashok Mahto, a figure with a notorious criminal reputation. Released last year after serving a 17-year sentence for the 2001 Nawada jailbreak, Mahto can't run for office, hence his wife's candidacy.
Source: aajtak
Anita is set to challenge the former JDU national president Lallan Singh, seizing her moment in the limelight while her husband charts his political course vicariously through her candidacy. Munger heads to the polls in the fourth phase.
