Shubhanand Mukesh, former Head of Environment at MTPA Steel Works in Jamshedpur, has been announced as the Janata Dal (United) candidate for the Kahalgaon Assembly seat in the upcoming Bihar elections. A qualified professional with no criminal record, Shubhanand is widely expected to make a strong bid for the seat.
The Kahalgaon constituency, part of Bhagalpur district, was previously held by the BJP. Under the latest seat-sharing arrangement between the BJP and JDU, Kahalgaon has been allotted to JDU, while the Tarapur seat—won by JDU in the last election—has gone to the BJP. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary will contest from Tarapur, in what party insiders describe as a smooth and strategic exchange that reinforces the alliance’s cohesion. By contrast, the opposition Mahagathbandhan has faced public disagreements over seat allocation.
Politics runs deep in Shubhanand’s family. His father, the late Sadanand Singh, was a veteran Congress leader and one of Bihar’s most enduring political figures. He served as State Congress president and represented Kahalgaon in the Bihar Legislative Assembly for nine terms, earning a reputation for his consistent presence and influence in the region. Shubhanand entered politics through the same party but later joined JDU in December 2021, marking a generational shift in the constituency’s political narrative.
Shubhanand’s former schoolmate, Nitin Gupta—a former ministerial adviser—recalled their early years together at the GD Birla Memorial School in Ranikhet, Almora (then part of Uttar Pradesh, now in Uttarakhand). “Shubhanand was one year junior to me when I studied at GD Birla Memorial School,” Nitin said. “We shared the same dormitory for around three years or so. Our beds were not far from each other.”
He added that Shubhanand, a Science student, had a quiet curiosity and a deep interest in discussions about history, culture and politics. “He was a keen listener and observer even back then,” Nitin said.
Their school days were also filled with shared memories beyond academics. Nitin recalled Shubhanand’s fascination with The Godfather films, which aired on Doordarshan in the early 1990s. “I remember walking into the Principal’s office along with Shubhanand to get permission to watch the Godfather movies during what was considered a late-night time for students back in those days,” he said. “Such was his craze about the films that he requested me to come along to the Principal’s office and ask for special permission alongside him.”
Nitin also spoke about hearing vivid stories of the political world from his friend, whose father was a towering figure in the Congress party. “He had met and spent a lot of time with various Congress legends at that time. I used to love hearing stories about his family’s interactions and experiences meeting political leaders across India from all sides,” he said.
Reflecting on his old friend’s candidacy, Nitin added, “Wishing Shubhanand all the very best for his upcoming elections. I look forward to catching up with him again pretty soon—hopefully as a Minister or lawmaker from Bihar leading a delegation to Melbourne, Australia or the USA.”
The Kahalgaon race is likely to draw attention beyond Bhagalpur, given its political lineage and the personal history of its candidate. For many locals, Shubhanand’s entry represents both continuity and change—a new phase in a constituency long tied to one family’s name, now under a new banner.
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