Niraj Sinha
Mokama MLA Anant Singh, who took on his own party’s leader Neeraj Kumar in the high-profile Patna Graduates’ constituency election to the Bihar Legislative Council, has suffered a heavy political setback. Neeraj Kumar won the election, Singh has been expelled from the JDU, and the party has recommended to the Speaker that his assembly membership be cancelled for anti-party activities.
JDU Expels Anant Singh and Wife Neelam Devi
On October 24, JDU state president Umesh Kushwaha issued an office order expelling Anant Singh for six years, citing defiance of party directions, use of disrespectful language towards the top leadership, and working against the party candidate in the Council election. The party alleges he campaigned against the JDU nominee and backed another party’s candidate. His wife, former MLA Neelam Devi, has also been expelled, and she has been removed from the 20-Point Programme Implementation Committee, losing her deputy minister status.
Neeraj Beats RJD’s Dilip Rai, Jan Suraaj Candidate Third
Neeraj Kumar of the JDU defeated the RJD’s Dilip Rai. Jan Suraaj Party’s Anuj Singh, whom Anant Singh had backed, finished third. Neeraj credited Nitish Kumar, Nishant Kumar, Samrat Choudhary, Upendra Kushwaha, Jitan Ram Manjhi and Chirag Paswan for the win, saying the celebration is still pending. He remarked “jaisi karni waisi bharni” on the outcome and also took a jibe at Singh over sweets he had claimed would be distributed after Neeraj’s defeat.
Anant Singh’s Reaction
Singh said counting is over and they lost, asking whether they had bought votes from a shop, and added that the public is the master. Asked about congratulating Neeraj, he said he had never been upset with the party and wondered whether Neeraj would call him.
Old Rivalry Behind the Fight
The enmity dates to 2015, when Nitish Kumar denied Singh a ticket and fielded Neeraj Kumar instead; Singh then won Mokama as an independent. In this election, Singh accompanied Jan Suraaj’s Dr Anuj Singh to file his nomination, saying his aim was to defeat Neeraj. He also alleged Neeraj had got an AK-47 planted at his house to frame him. Neeraj replied that Singh should go to court if he has proof and said his own life is transparent. Efforts to mediate through Union Minister Lalan Singh failed. Neeraj is considered close to Nitish Kumar, and the BJP also supported him, wary of Jan Suraaj gaining ground after its Prashant Kishor’s win in the Bankipur by-election.
