Internal friction within the Janata Dal United has surfaced ahead of the Bihar Legislative Council elections, centered around the Patna Graduate constituency. Tensions escalated after Mokama MLA Anant Singh openly rebelled against the party's official candidate, Neeraj Kumar. Seeking to quell the rebellion, the party leadership authorized senior leader Lalan Singh to mediate and resolve the growing dispute. However, following a direct meeting between the two leaders, Anant Singh made it clear that he will not campaign for the official nominee under any circumstances.
Lalan Singh Acknowledges Leadership Oversight While Securing Truce on Public Remarks
Addressing reporters after his discussions with Anant Singh, Lalan Singh conceded that the current discord stems from unresolved past grievances. He remarked that every action inevitably generates a reaction, noting that one cannot clap with just one hand. Reflecting on past events, Lalan Singh pointed out that Anant Singh faced opposition during the assembly elections, a conflict that the party leadership failed to settle at the time. He acknowledged that this inaction was an oversight on the part of the party leadership.
During their private discussions, Anant Singh maintained that he would not seek votes for someone who had previously opposed him. In response, Lalan Singh requested that the Mokama MLA refrain from making any further public remarks on the matter, a condition to which Anant Singh agreed, preventing immediate escalations in the public sphere.
Open Backing for Jan Suraaj Party Nominee
The rift broke into the open last Thursday when Anant Singh attended the nomination filing of Anuj Singh, the candidate fielded by the Jan Suraaj Party for the legislative council seat. Accompanied by a large crowd of supporters, the Mokama legislator took part in a campaign procession and publicly threw his weight behind the opposition candidate. His direct backing of an opponent running against the ruling party nominee triggered widespread ripples across Bihar's political landscape.
Rivalry Tracing Back to the 2015 Assembly Contest
Anant Singh had earlier declared his intention to see Neeraj Kumar defeated in the Patna Graduate seat. Defending his rebellious posture, the lawmaker stated that he was unconcerned about the party's formal position because Neeraj Kumar had opposed him on multiple occasions, emphasizing that he intended to respond in the exact same manner.
The roots of this bitter rivalry go back to the 2015 assembly elections. At that time, Anant Singh severed ties with the JDU to contest as an independent candidate. The party fielded Neeraj Kumar against him from the constituency. Despite the challenge, Anant Singh secured a decisive victory by a substantial margin to retain his seat, cementing a personal and political rivalry that continues to disrupt party unity today.
