Anant Singh, a prominent and controversial politician in India’s Bihar state, has attracted widespread attention after inviting around 400,000 people to his daughter’s wedding. Known locally as a ‘Bahubali’ leader, Singh is preparing for an extravagant celebration, with extensive arrangements being made for guests, catering, decorations and accommodation.
His daughter, Shivangi Singh, is due to marry Rishikesh Kumar on 25 November. The main wedding ceremony will take place at the family’s ancestral home in Ladma village, in the Mokama area of Patna district, Bihar.
Preparations for the enormous gathering are already under way. Organisers are constructing a vast marquee to accommodate the expected guests, while arrangements are being made to serve food on a massive scale. Skilled craftsmen from Mau district in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh have been brought in to build the marquee and the stage where the bride and groom will exchange wedding garlands. The organisers aim to complete the construction work by 20 November.
Special arrangements are also being made for high-profile guests. A separate marquee will be set up for VIP and VVIP attendees, while a permanent platform measuring 100 feet in length is being constructed for the couple. Around 15 tonnes of decorative ornaments will be used to adorn the stage, where Shivangi and Rishikesh will sit during the ceremony.
Although the main wedding celebrations will take place in Ladma, some of the post-wedding rituals will be held elsewhere. After the marriage, Shivangi is expected to move with her husband to their new home in Ramkrishna Nagar, Bihta, where the subsequent family ceremonies will take place.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Anant Singh said guests would be arriving not only from different parts of Bihar but also from across India. He even claimed that people from Pakistan were expected to attend. Politicians from both the ruling party and the opposition have been invited, alongside artists and other prominent personalities. Singh also said that an invitation would be sent to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The scale of the wedding has attracted considerable attention, particularly given Singh’s political standing and controversial public image. In Bihar, the term ‘Bahubali’ is often used to describe influential political figures associated with considerable local power and strong political networks.
However, the celebrations will be followed by a significant legal challenge for the politician. Just six days after the wedding, Singh is due to face a deadline set by India’s Supreme Court to surrender before the court by 1 December in connection with the murder case involving Dular Chand Yadav.
Singh was arrested in October last year over allegations relating to a murder conspiracy. He was released on bail in March this year. The Supreme Court subsequently directed him to surrender within the stipulated period, placing him under renewed legal scrutiny.
The politician has also faced political controversy over recent remarks concerning former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. Singh reportedly claimed that he had planned to kill nine people for Nitish Kumar, prompting criticism and questions over the meaning of his statement.
He later sought to clarify his comments, claiming that he had actually been referring to the killing of nine of his associates during the government led by Lalu Prasad Yadav. Singh also alleged that he had been shot during that period. According to his explanation, he meant that his associates and he had been targeted because of their association with Nitish Kumar.
Nitish Kumar’s party, the Janata Dal (United), or JD(U), has distanced itself from Singh’s remarks. The party subsequently expelled him for six years over alleged violations of party discipline.
The wedding is therefore unfolding against a backdrop of political controversy and legal uncertainty. While preparations continue for a celebration expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people, Singh is also approaching a crucial court-imposed deadline. The combination of an extraordinary wedding invitation list, political connections and pending legal proceedings has made the event a major talking point in Bihar.
