Don-turned-politician and Janata Dal (United) leader Anant Kumar Singh was brought to the Bihar Assembly in a prison vehicle on Tuesday (February 3, 2026) to take oath as a Member of the Legislative Assembly, in an unusual and closely watched political development.
Singh, who recently won the Mokama Assembly seat, arrived at the state legislature under tight security arrangements as he is currently lodged in jail in connection with criminal cases. Heavy police deployment was seen around the Assembly premises during his brief appearance.
After being sworn in as an MLA, Anant Singh walked up to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and touched his feet, a gesture widely seen as a mark of respect toward his political mentor. Nitish Kumar, who heads the JD(U) and leads the NDA government in Bihar, acknowledged the gesture before Singh was escorted back to the prison vehicle.
The scene drew attention inside and outside the Assembly, highlighting the controversial yet influential presence of Anant Singh in Bihar politics. Known for his strongman image, Singh has remained a key figure in the political landscape of the Mokama region despite facing multiple criminal charges.
Opposition leaders questioned the optics of a jailed legislator being sworn in, while JD(U) leaders maintained that Singh was exercising his constitutional right after being democratically elected. Legal experts pointed out that under Indian law, a person can become an MLA unless convicted and disqualified by a court.
Singh’s return to the Assembly is expected to have political implications, particularly in the ongoing session where key issues related to governance and development are being debated. His swearing-in further underlines the complex intersection of crime and politics in the state’s electoral landscape.
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