Bihar MLC Polls: JD(U) Backs Neeraj Kumar, Predicts NDA Win Across Eight Seats

The Election Commission of India has scheduled the elections for October 23. The eight seats are from the Teacher and Graduate constituencies of the Bihar Legislative Council.

JD(U) Bihar president Umesh Kushwaha said the NDA was confident of securing all eight seats, describing the contest as a one-sided affair and pointing to the alliance's performance in the 2025 Assembly elections.

"The NDA will win all eight seats, and it will be a one-sided victory. No one is in contention," Kushwaha said, attributing the confidence to the party's organisational strength and the support of its workers.

JD(U) spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan also backed Neeraj Kumar, saying his longstanding work for the party and his role in the Legislative Council would help him in the election.

The MLC elections have already generated political activity, with differences emerging within both the NDA and the Grand Alliance.

Within the NDA, tensions have surfaced in the JD(U) over the Patna Graduate constituency, while the Rashtriya Lok Morcha, another NDA constituent, has reportedly expressed dissatisfaction over not being allotted a seat.

The Patna Graduate contest has also brought the differences between JD(U) MLA Anant Singh and Neeraj Kumar into focus.

Neeraj recently met JD(U) national president Nitish Kumar and sought his blessings ahead of the election. Following the meeting, he announced that he would submit his nomination on October 5.

The dispute between Anant Singh and Neeraj Kumar has intensified in recent days, with Anant Singh saying he would work to defeat Neeraj in the election even if it resulted in disciplinary action against him.

Meanwhile, Bihar Health Minister Nishant Kumar appealed to young JD(U) workers to unite and campaign for Neeraj Kumar.

Describing Neeraj as an experienced and committed party colleague, Nishant said he had consistently raised public grievances and issues concerning his constituency.

Anant Singh, however, has maintained that his differences with Neeraj Kumar are personal and do not constitute an internal party dispute. He has also warned leaders who may seek to intervene in the matter that such involvement could prove counterproductive.

With nominations underway, the contest has emerged as an important test of internal cohesion within the JD(U), even as the party leadership remains confident of the NDA's performance across all eight seats.