Political Rivalry Within Marriages: Husbands Replace Wives in Bihar Assembly Election Tickets

In Bihar, a fascinating competition for assembly election tickets is unfolding between husbands and wives across political parties. Currently, men are leading this unusual race with a score of 2-0.

Patna has become the stage for this domestic political rivalry where two female legislators have already lost their candidacy to their own husbands. The contest has been particularly ruthless, with one husband publicly questioning his wife's competence as a legislator.

Anant Singh, whose wife Neelam Devi currently serves as the Mokama MLA representing Rashtriya Janata Party, submitted his nomination papers today after securing a ticket from Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal United. Singh didn't hesitate to publicly criticize his wife, claiming she neglects her constituency and has lost public support.

The story behind this situation is quite remarkable. Anant Singh had won the 2020 election on an RJD ticket, but lost his assembly membership following imprisonment under the Arms Act. This vacancy led to a by-election where his wife Neelam Devi secured the seat. Now, after his release from jail, Anant has reclaimed his political ambitions at his wife's expense.

In another similar case in Gaurabauram constituency, Sujit Singh has replaced his wife, sitting MLA Swarna Singh. A Revenue Service official, Sujit received a BJP ticket just one day after joining the party. His father Sunil Kumar previously served as a Legislative Councillor from Darbhanga, highlighting the family's political connections.

Swarna Singh had won the Gaurabauram assembly seat in 2020 representing the Vikassheel Insaan Party with approximately 59,538 votes (41.26% of the total vote share), defeating Rashtritya Janata Dal's Afzal Ali Khan who received 52,258 votes (36.31%).

This emerging trend of husbands replacing their wives in electoral politics demonstrates an interesting dynamic in Bihar's political landscape, where family relationships and political ambitions are becoming increasingly intertwined.