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| Anant Singh talks over phone at the party office in Mokama on Monday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey |
Mokama, Nov. 1: JD (U) candidate Anant Singh alleged today that a local don, Nalini Ranjan alias Lalan Singh, captured 10 booths in the constituency to ensure voting in favour of his wife Sonam Devi, an LJP candidate.
Anant Singh, who himself is a known “bahubali” (muscleman), demanded strict action against Lalan, cousin of former Mokama legislator Surajbhan Singh. Most booths in Mokama have been declared sensitive as the constituency is witnessing contest between three bahubalis and Sonam Devi, wife of another don.
The Telegraph visited Mokama, 38km from Bakhtiyarpur railway station, to see the polling trend in the area.
At booth number 75, where JD (U) party office is located, Anant Singh was seen sitting with his party worker.
Anant said: “Lalan Singh has captured 10 booths for his wife even though he has been extricated from the district. He is helping Sonam Devi through his armed supporters at several booths. His supporters are, in fact, beating up the voters and threatening them with dire consequences.”
He said: “Sonam is being supported by Surajbhan Singh (former Balia MP). I have defeated Lalan twice in the past elections. Now Lalan is hatching a conspiracy to kill me.”
When asked why he didn’t cast his vote, he said: “I will not cast my vote. I have a bodyguard watching me round-the-clock. To cast vote, I will have to go alone in the room that I can’t do that because there are people who want to kill me. So it’s better I don’tcast my vote.”
“Bahubali” Mithu Yadav from Ghosvari village is in the fray as an Independent candidate. Another muscleman Sanjay Singh from Mokama town is also contesting the polls as an Independent candidate. Congress nominee Shyam Sunder Singh Dhiraj is the only one not named in any criminal case.
A large contingent of security men was seen outside booth number 20. When asked about the reason, a poll official said, “The voters are creating trouble inside the booth. That’s why we have stepped up the security.”
