Patna:
Anand Mohan maybe a convicted criminal, serving a life term for the murder of an IAS officer in 1994, but in election season, he's in big demand.
The biggest surprise, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar personally visiting Mohan's village in Saharsa a few days ago, ostensibly for a marriage in the family.
But for someone who hardsells his image of pulling Bihar out of its earlier crime infested avatar, Nitish Kumar is surprisingly at ease about his overtures to Anand Mohan.
"It was just a social visit and even if he joins our party what's the problem," said Nitish Kumar, Bihar Chief Minister.
"Yes, many people are trying to get in touch with me. I will decide who to go with a bit later," said Anand Mohan, former MP.
What Nitish Kumar won't say on record, is that he needs someone like Anand Mohan ahead of the elections, because Mohan commands a sizeable following amongst upper castes in Bihar's Kosi belt and in a state where caste equations play a very important role in any election, perhaps even the murder of an IAS officer can be forgiven, in the interest of winning elections.
And if Nitish Kumar can woo the Bahubalis or strongmen, how can his rival Lalu Yadav be far behind. At a rally in Chhapra a few days ago, former JD(U) MP and strongman Prabhunath Singh joined the RJD. Prabhunath has a murder case against his name, and is the main accused in at least a dozen other crimes cases.
"Now that Lalu Yadav and I am together, what can be a better thing," said Prabhunath Singh, RJD Leader.
"Prabhunathji has told me not to let him down in the future, and I have assured him I will not," said Lalu Yadav, president, RJD.
In the last Assembly elections in Bihar, as many as 360 out of the 900 contesting candidates had a criminal record and while much may have changed across the state over the last five years, this is one trend that seems here to stay.