India, Nov. 4 -- Two roadshows held on Monday in and around Patna-one in Danapur and another in Mokama, nearly 85 kilometres apart-have laid bare the deep contradictions and hypocrisy of Bihar's politics, as both the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Grand Alliance rallied behind candidates facing serious criminal allegations despite tall public commitments to clean governance.

Anant Kumar Singh (often listed as "Anant Singh") was the centrepiece of the 30-kilometre NDA roadshow in Mokama, led by Union Minister and JD(U) leader Lallan Singh and BJP Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, who is also being projected as one of the NDA's chief ministerial aspirants. Singh, a criminal-turned-politician, has long been a dominant figu...