Union Minister and JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh has reacted to the controversy surrounding his viral speech and the subsequent FIR filed against him at the Mokama police station.
Speaking about the incident, Singh said, "...If someone sees the complete video, they would find RJD's tweet misleading. An RJD leader lives in the village from where this video has come up. He threatens people and scares them into not going to booths. I said that if leaders threaten and scare the poor, people of village should corner and lock them up. If they (such leaders) want to go and vote, take them to polling booth and after that force them to stay inside their houses."
He added, "Nobody can threaten the poor and get their votes. This is my complete statement from the rally in Shivnar." Singh went on to explain that during his visit to the election office in Mokama, he addressed workers about threats being made to poor voters in wards number 15 to 27 under Mokama Nagar Parishad. "The poor are our voters, voters of Nitish Kumar. Will we not protect and encourage our voters?" he asked, further asserting, "There is rule of law in Nitish Kumar's rule. All of us respect law. So, if an FIR has been lodged against me on the instructions of EC, I respect it."
The Election Commission had earlier sought an explanation from Singh after a clip of his speech went viral, in which he was allegedly heard saying, "There are a few leaders, don't let them step out of their homes on polling day. Keep them inside."
The remarks sparked sharp criticism from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which accused Singh of attempting to prevent opposition supporters from voting. In a post on X, RJD claimed Singh had "run a bulldozer over the chest of the Election Commission."
RJD spokesperson Priyanka Bharti called the speech “state-sponsored intimidation” and questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence despite his frequent “jungle raj” barbs at the opposition. She wrote, "On voting day, do not let the opposition leader leave the house! Keep him confined inside the house; if he resists too much, take him along with you and let him cast his vote. ~Lalan Singh."
Tagging the Election Commission and the state election authorities, Bharti demanded, "@ECISVEEP @CEOBihar Will you wake up from your slumber and verify the authenticity of this gentleman's video full of strongman rhetoric, and take appropriate action?"
As Bihar heads toward a heated contest, Mokama once again finds itself in the spotlight. JD(U) has fielded Anant Singh, while RJD’s candidate is Veena Devi, wife of former MP Surajbhan Singh. From the Jan Suraaj Party, Priyadarshi Piyush is also in the fray. Voting for Bihar’s 243 Assembly seats is scheduled in two phases on November 6 and 11, with counting to be held on November 14.
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