A political row broke out in Bihar on Thursday after the alleged shooting of a Jan Suraaj Party supporter during an election campaign in Patna’s Mokama area.
The victim, identified as Dularchand Yadav, was reportedly shot dead after gunfire erupted amid campaigning activities. The incident triggered outrage across the political spectrum, with opposition parties questioning the state’s law and order situation ahead of the Bihar Assembly polls.
Patna SSP Kartikeya K Sharma said that the exact cause of death was yet to be confirmed as Yadav’s body had not been handed over to the police. “Whether he succumbed to bullet injuries or it was an accidental death can only be known when the police get the body,” Sharma said.
Another police officer, however, confirmed that Yadav died while campaigning for Jan Suraaj Party’s candidate Piyush Priyadarshi.
The Mokama constituency remains one of the most high-profile seats in Bihar, witnessing a fierce contest between two gangster-turned-politicians. JD(U) strongman Anant Singh is contesting from Mokama, while the RJD has fielded Veena Devi, the wife of Surajbhan Singh, another influential figure in the region.
Surajbhan Singh, also known locally as ‘Dada’, is disqualified from contesting and is backing his wife in the electoral fray. Polling for the seat is scheduled for November 6.
Jan Suraaj Party’s state president Manoj Bharti issued a statement condemning the killing, calling it an “assault on democratic rights.”
“The incident took place at the behest of those who seek votes by instilling fear of ‘jungle raj’. This is an assault on our democratic rights. We strongly condemn the attack on the convoy of our Mokama Assembly poll candidate, Priyadarshi Piyush, and the killing of one of his supporters,” Bharti said.
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He added that every candidate has the right to conduct a peaceful public outreach. “Attacking them during poll campaigns, firing bullets to show dominance, and running a vehicle over a supporter to kill them are heinous crimes,” Bharti said.
Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor told reporters that senior leaders of the party were in Mokama monitoring the situation.
“As soon as we receive any updates, we will inform everyone,” he said.
Meanwhile, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav criticised the government, saying the incident reflects a breakdown in law and order.
“The murder of Dular Chand Yadav is a matter of serious concern. The incident puts a question mark on the law and order situation in the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi must see all these. He always talks about the NDA rule in Bihar. What ‘raj’ should it be called?” Yadav said.
The Bihar Assembly elections are set to take place in two phases on November 6 and 11, with results to be declared on November 14.
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