Anant Singh-Neeraj Kumar Dispute Reaches JD(U) Leadership Ahead of MLC Polls

JD(U) state president Umesh Kushwaha and Minister Shrawon Kumar met former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday and briefed him on the developments surrounding the dispute.

Speaking after the meeting, the two leaders said Nitish Kumar had been informed about the matter. They indicated that the party would take a decision after considering the issue and share further details at an appropriate time, while stressing that the immediate focus remained on the upcoming election.

The dispute has intensified after Anant Singh publicly backed Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Kumar Singh in the Patna Graduates constituency contest, where Neeraj Kumar is seeking another term.

Anant Singh has maintained that his differences with Neeraj Kumar are personal and should not be viewed as an internal dispute within the JD(U). He has nevertheless announced that he would campaign for Anuj Kumar Singh and work against Neeraj Kumar's candidature.

On Monday, Anant Singh appeared at a press conference alongside Anuj Kumar Singh at his Patna residence and reiterated his support for the Jan Suraaj candidate.

“I have never lost an election to date. Anuj Singh will also win. For me, the public is God; they will vote for us. Patna will be packed during Anuj Singh's nomination filing—we have made massive preparations,” Singh said.

During the interaction with the media, Anant Singh also levelled several allegations against Neeraj Kumar. He claimed that an AK-47 had previously been planted at his residence, an allegation he linked to his subsequent arrest and imprisonment.

Singh further alleged that Neeraj Kumar had repeatedly worked against him during elections and claimed that former JD(U) leader R.C.P. Singh had assisted Neeraj Kumar in those efforts. These allegations were made by Anant Singh and have not been independently established.

Singh also said he intended to campaign against Neeraj Kumar in the upcoming election and claimed that he would work to ensure that the sitting MLC lost his security deposit.

Neeraj Kumar is the incumbent MLC from the Patna Graduates constituency and is preparing to contest the seat again. Anant Singh's decision to publicly support the Jan Suraaj candidate has added another layer to the contest and brought the dispute into focus within the JD(U).

The meeting between the party's state leadership and Nitish Kumar comes as the election campaign gathers pace. The JD(U)'s response to the dispute is now being closely watched as it weighs how to address the differences between the two leaders while focusing on the upcoming MLC polls.