Dhanbad: Sanjeev Singh’s victory in the Dhanbad Municipal Corporation mayoral election has brought his family residence, ‘Singh Mansion’, back into the political spotlight. The former Jharia MLA defeated his nearest rival by a margin of over 31,902 votes, signalling a symbolic resurgence for the political family.The mansion, long regarded as a power centre in Dhanbad politics and known for its association with former PM Chandra Shekhar, faced a period of political decline in recent years. The family’s troubles deepened when Sanjeev was jailed in connection with the murder of his cousin, former deputy mayor Neeraj Singh. He spent eight years behind the bars before being acquitted by a court. However, during this period, the family’s political standing suffered.The setback continued in the 2019 assembly election when Sanjeev’s wife, Ragini Singh, lost the Jharia seat to Congress’ Purnima Singh, widow of Neeraj. The political tide began to turn in 2024 when Ragini reclaimed the Jharia seat on a BJP ticket, defeating Purnima.Following relief from the Supreme Court in Aug 2025, Sanjeev was released from jail. When municipal elections were announced, he entered the fray as a BJP rebel candidate. “Some candidates were backed by BJP, some by Congress and some by JMM. But I was supported by the people. That is why the people made me mayor of Dhanbad,” Singh said, dedicating his win to the citizens and pledging to serve them as family.Celebrations erupted ss supporters thronged the residence from early morning. Several leaders, including Dhanbad MLA Raj Sinha, visited to congratulate Sanjeev. Ragini termed the victory a reflection of Sanjeev’s popularity and capability, noting that he achieved the feat within a short campaign period.Sanjeev’s parents, Kunti Devi and Surya Dev Singh, also served as MLAs from Jharia, making it the family’s traditional bastion.
