Nitish Kumar Meets Lalan Singh Amid JD(U) Differences Over Patna Graduates’ Seat

The meeting lasted around 20 minutes. No details of the discussion were officially disclosed, but the meeting took place shortly before JD(U) candidate Neeraj Kumar was scheduled to file his nomination and amid opposition to his candidature from Mokama MLA Anant Singh.

The JD(U) leadership had earlier asked Lalan Singh to intervene and attempt to resolve the differences between Anant Singh and Neeraj Kumar.

Anant Singh has publicly backed Jan Suraaj candidate Dr Anuj Singh for the Patna Graduates’ seat instead of the JD(U)’s official nominee. He attended Anuj Singh’s nomination programme on October 1 and has subsequently campaigned in his support.

The Mokama MLA has also publicly stated that he wants Neeraj Kumar to lose the election, citing his differences with the JD(U) leader.

His position has created an unusual situation for the JD(U), with one of its sitting MLAs campaigning for a candidate from another party against the ruling alliance's official nominee.

JD(U) working president Sanjay Jha had earlier acknowledged the differences between Anant Singh and Neeraj Kumar and said Lalan Singh had been tasked with holding discussions with both leaders to find a way forward.

Lalan Singh had indicated that he would attempt to broker a settlement without taking sides, while making it clear that any resolution would depend on the willingness of both leaders to resolve their differences.

Nitish Kumar's latest meeting with Lalan Singh comes against this backdrop. However, neither leader has publicly indicated whether any specific decision was reached during their discussion.

Neeraj Kumar, the JD(U)'s incumbent representative from the Patna Graduates' constituency, is scheduled to submit his nomination papers on Monday. He had met Nitish Kumar ahead of the filing and received the JD(U) president's support for his campaign.

The JD(U) has again nominated Neeraj Kumar from the constituency, while Jan Suraaj has fielded Dr Anuj Singh.

Anant Singh's decision to support the Jan Suraaj candidate has brought the internal differences within the JD(U) into sharper focus ahead of the election.