Lok Sabha polls: Bihar bahubalis eye proxy run, hand election mantle to wives

PATNA: Shorn of full poll freedom, several muscle-flexing Bihar leaders have turned to their better halves, just like Lalu Prasad nearly 27 years ago.
These strongmen – called Bahubalis – have fielded their wives in the LS polls in a bid to control “fiefdoms” by proxy. Many others already enjoy such power by getting their wives elected as mukhiyas (village heads), earning the moniker of “Mukhiya Patis (mukhiya husbands)”.
Just before being sent to jail in the fodder scam in July 1997, Lalu had installed wife Rabri as CM.That way, he ruled Bihar for eight years by proxy until the voters dethroned Rabri in the 2005 assembly elections, leading to formation of the Nitish Kumar-led NDA govt.
The current crop of Bahubalis also believes that life partners can be potential power pathways. A notable example is don-turned-politician Anand Mohan whose wife Lovely Anand, a former MP, is contesting from Sheohar on a JD(U) ticket.
Mohan, who represented Sheohar in 1996 and 1998, was released only in April last year after over 16 years in jail in connection with the 1994 murder of then Gopalganj DM G Krishnaiah. His release became possible after the then Nitish-led Grand Alliance govt brought certain changes in prison manuals allowing such relief. Mohan cannot contest polls as rules prohibit convicts jailed for over two years from contesting polls until six years after their release.
The next is Awadhesh Mandal, a strongman from Purnia. His wife Bima Bharti, a five-time MLA and former minister, is tipped to contest from the Purnia LS seat on an RJD ticket after recently quitting Nitish’s JD(U). Mandal faces more than 12 criminal cases, including those of murder and kidnapping.
Ramesh Kushwaha, a former legislator, has fielded wife Vijayalaxmi Devi from Siwan on a JD(U) ticket. Kushwaha, who had been associated with the CPI-ML, gained prominence after he registered an FIR against then Siwan don-turned-MP Mohammad Sahabuddin in connection with 1997 killing of JNU student leader Chandrashekhar Prasad.
Later, Kushwaha joined RJD, erstwhile RLSP, JD(U) and the Upendra Kushwaha-led Rashtriya Lok Morcha before returning to JD(U). Currently, Siwan is represented in the Lok Sabha by JD(U) leader Kavita Singh, wife of don-turned-politician Ajay Singh.
Mukesh Yadav, an RJD leader, has got ticket for his wife Archna Ravidas for Jamui. She will take on LJP (Ram Vilas) candidate Arun Bharti, the brother-in-law of party president Chirag Paswan. Archna is trying to make the contest a “local versus outsider” race to gain sympathy.
Last, but not the least, is Nawada strongman Ashok Mahto who has fielded wife Kumari Anita from Munger on an RJD ticket. Mahto tied the knot with Anita only recently. He himself cannot contest as he was released last year after 17 years in jail in a 2001 jailbreak case.