Patna: A day before campaigning intensifies for the Patna Graduates’ Legislative Council seat, JD(U) MLA Anant Singh has handed his own party an embarrassing controversy, declaring that he had “got nine people murdered” while standing by Nitish Kumar in the latter’s early political years.
Singh made the remarks at an election meeting where he sought support for Jan Suraaj Party candidate Anuj Singh, who is contesting against JD(U) nominee Neeraj Kumar. The election is scheduled for October 23.
“I have made major sacrifices for Nitish Kumar during his initial political career. No other member of the party has made such a sacrifice as I made for him (Nitish Kumar),” Singh told the gathering.
He then went further, invoking his past association with the JD(U) supremo. “Who has made as many sacrifices as I have? Nitish Kumar was nothing then. He used to roam around. At that time, while being with Nitish Kumar, I got nine people murdered,” he said.
Despite the provocative language, Singh insisted that his political allegiance to Kumar had not changed. “I am a devoted supporter of Nitish Kumar. I have never challenged his leadership,” he said, explaining that he had chosen to back Anuj because elections were not fought on party lines, as reported by The New Indian Express.
Open Revolt Against JD(U)
Singh is openly working against Neeraj Kumar, the JD(U) candidate from the Patna Graduates’ constituency. He has accused Neeraj of working against him during the earlier Mokama Assembly election and has repeatedly said he would ensure his defeat.
“Who has made as many sacrifices as I have?” Singh asked again at the rally, underlining his argument that the party had overlooked his long association with Nitish Kumar while choosing Neeraj for the council seat.
The feud has proved difficult for the JD(U) to contain. Senior leaders attempted to broker peace between the two, but the efforts failed. Even Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, alias Lalan Singh, could not persuade Anant to withdraw his opposition.
Known as “Chhote Sarkar”, Anant Singh commands substantial influence in Mokama region of Patna district. His decision to campaign for a rival candidate has exposed a fresh fault line within the party weeks before the poll.
Party Warns, Leader Defiant
JD(U) state president Umesh Singh Kushwaha has warned that disciplinary action could be taken against Anant for defying the party’s directions. But the Mokama MLA showed no sign of backing down. “I stand by my statement,” he asserted.
The controversy comes as Jan Suraaj Party founder and Bankipur MLA Prashant Kishor sharpened his attack on the NDA during campaigning for Anuj Singh. Taking aim at Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, Kishor said, “Votes were cast in the name of Nitish, but Samrat became the CM.”
He urged voters to defeat NDA candidates in the election to make it clear that they did not want Choudhary to continue as chief minister. Kishor also questioned how a person facing criminal charges could head the government.
