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Warisaliganj Showdown: Wives of Rival Strongmen Set to Battle in Bihar's Electoral Arena

The Warisaliganj Assembly seat is set to witness an intense electoral battle between two powerful political families. RJD has fielded Anita Devi, wife of strongman Ashok Mahto, against BJP's sitting MLA Aruna Devi. This contest reflects a decades-long rivalry that has dominated the region's political landscape. The election is viewed as a critical test of RJD's strategy to challenge NDA's influence in southern Bihar.

Key Points: RJD's Anita Devi vs BJP's Aruna Devi in Warisaliganj Rivalry

  • RJD fields Anita Devi, wife of Ashok Mahto, in Warisaliganj seat
  • Competing against BJP's Aruna Devi, wife of Akhilesh Singh
  • Decades-long political rivalry between two influential families
  • Electoral contest seen as strategic test for RJD's political approach
2 min read

Warisaliganj seat: RJD fields Anita Devi, wife of gangster Ashok Mahto, against BJP's Aruna Devi

RJD fields Anita Devi against BJP's Aruna Devi in a high-stakes Bihar Assembly election battle with deep-rooted political rivalry

"The stage is set for another high-stakes showdown -- this time between the wives of the two rival strongmen. - Article Source"

Patna, Oct 18

The Warisliganj Assembly seat in Nawada district is set to witness one of the most dramatic contests of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections — a fresh chapter in the decades-long rivalry between two powerful political families.

RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav and Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav have reposed faith in Anita Devi, wife of strongman Ashok Mahto, by fielding her from Warisliganj.

Anita Devi, who contested the Lok Sabha election 2024 from Munger against Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh and suffered a heavy defeat, has once again received the RJD symbol.

According to party sources, Anita Devi was given the ticket late Thursday night at Rabri Devi's residence, where Tejashwi personally handed her the party symbol.

She will take on Aruna Devi, the sitting MLA and BJP candidate from the NDA, who is also the wife of another influential strongman, Akhilesh Singh.

Ashok Mahto, who was released from prison in December 2023 after spending 17 years behind bars in connection with a Nawada jailbreak case, has been campaigning actively in the region.

Though barred from contesting elections due to his conviction, he has been mobilising support for his wife for several weeks.

The rivalry between Ashok Mahto and Akhilesh Singh has dominated the politics of the Warisliganj-Nawada-Nalanda belt for nearly three decades. What began as a battle for caste and area dominance in the 1990s gradually evolved into a political war between their families.

Warisliganj's electoral history reflects this intense competition.

In 2000, Aruna Devi first won the seat on a JD(U) ticket. In 2005, Pradeep Mahto, a close aide of Ashok Mahto, entered the fray, losing the February election but defeating Aruna Devi in the October re-election.

Pradeep Mahto retained the seat in 2010, but Aruna Devi returned to victory in 2015 and consolidated her position in 2020, winning on a BJP ticket by over 25,000 votes against RJD's Aarti Singh.

Now, the stage is set for another high-stakes showdown -- this time between the wives of the two rival strongmen.

Both Anita Devi and Aruna Devi are expected to rely heavily on the traditional support bases built by their husbands.

Political observers believe this contest will not only decide the future of Warisliganj but also serve as a litmus test for RJD's strategy of embracing muscle power to challenge the NDA's hold in southern Bihar.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Interesting to see how this decades-old rivalry continues through their wives. Both women have their own political journeys now. Let's see who connects better with the voters beyond just their husband's influence.
A
Aruna Devi
As a woman from Bihar, I'm proud to see women in politics, but disappointed that they're still being used as proxies for their husbands' criminal networks. We deserve better representation! 🙏
V
Vikram M
Aruna Devi has been a good MLA for Warisaliganj. She's experienced and has delivered development work. Why replace her with someone who just lost the Lok Sabha election? BJP should retain this seat.
S
Sarah B
The political drama in Bihar never disappoints! This is like a Bollywood script playing out in real life. Two powerful families, decades of rivalry, and now their wives fighting it out. 🍿
N
Nikhil C
RJD is making a strategic move here. Ashok Mahto still has significant influence in the region despite his criminal record. This could be a close contest, but I hope voters think about development over muscle power.

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