You’ve probably heard of Mokama by now. In the thick of this election season, a candidate stands booked in a murder case.

JD(U) candidate Anant Singh, long counted among Bihar’s feared strongmen, is suddenly a media favourite. Reporters from Delhi line up for interviews that end up revisiting his past more than his plans for the people he seeks to represent.

But the real story lies beyond the personality. What has three decades of Singh-family dominance meant for Mokama itself? Since 1990, except for one brief gap, the seat has been held by either Anant Singh or someone from his family. So what does development look like in their backyard?

We travelled to Mokama to find out. What we saw was a town caught between its reputation and its reality – factories that no longer run, hospitals without doctors, and families struggling to fill their plates.

Watch our ground report from Bihar’s heartland, where muscle, politics, and everyday survival meet.

From ground reports to interviews, Team Newslaundry is on the ground in Bihar to track every aspect of this election. Your support will directly power our work. Click here.