Anant Singh faces three FIRs as Bihar police crack down on poll code breaches

Bihar police have registered three first information reports against Janata Dal (United) legislator Anant Singh and Jan Suraaj Party candidate Anuj Singh following an unauthorised campaign roadshow in Patna district, underscoring the administration's strict enforcement of election rules ahead of the state's legislative council polls.

The cases, filed at Barh and Mokama police stations, follow an October 18 roadshow held in Singh's constituency of Mokama. Police said the campaign procession openly flouted the Model Code of Conduct by operating far more vehicles than permitted, blaring sirens through public roads and deploying heavy earthmoving machinery to shower flower petals across crowded junctions.

What happened during the Mokama roadshow

The roadshow was organised in support of Anuj Singh, who is contesting the Patna Graduates' constituency in the upcoming council elections. Rather than sticking to statutory restrictions on campaign convoys, the procession moved through Barh and Mokama with hundreds of vehicles, loud sirens and earthmovers stationed at intersections.

"JCB machines were also deployed at multiple locations in Barh town to shower flower petals, adversely affecting normal law and order," Barh Sub-Divisional Police Officer Ram Krishna said. "This was a clear violation of the election Model Code of Conduct. A total of three FIRs have been registered against the MLA, Anuj Singh and others in this regard."

The swift registration of cases highlights the local administration's resolve to uphold electoral standards without giving leeway to political figures or influential candidates.

Internal party friction in the Patna Graduates' race

The roadshow also brought internal political frictions into public view. Anant Singh, an MLA from the governing JD(U), has actively campaigned for Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Singh while working against his own party colleague, sitting MLC Neeraj Kumar, who is seeking re-election from the seat.

Singh dismissed party discipline when questioned about his stance, citing long-standing personal grievances. "I do not know what the party line is in this matter," he said recently. "The fact remains that he has opposed me on so many occasions. I must pay him back in the same coin."

Despite his cross-party campaigning and political stature in Mokama, administrative authorities moved promptly to document the infractions and file cases under the relevant provisions of the electoral code and public order regulations.

Key dates for the Bihar council elections

The eight council constituencies heading to the polls represent both graduates' and teachers' seats spread across several divisions in the state.

Voting across all eight constituencies will take place between 8 am and 4 pm on 23 October, with counting scheduled for 27 October. Police officials said investigations into the roadshow violations are continuing, with evidence being gathered on the vehicles and machinery deployed on the day.