Daijiworld Media Network - Patna
Patna, Oct 29: The political fallout of the Patna Graduates' constituency election to the Bihar Legislative Council has intensified following the victory of Janata Dal (United) MLC Neeraj Kumar, whose sharp remarks have fuelled speculation about internal differences within the party led by former chief minister Nitish Kumar.
Neeraj has made it clear that he will not call Union Minister and Munger MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh, popularly known as Lalan Singh, to seek his blessings or congratulations following his victory. His remarks have triggered fresh questions about the strained equations within the JD(U) after the election campaign.
Asked why he had faced difficulties during the election, Neeraj questioned what fault of his had prompted opposition from a section of party leaders.
“I want to know my fault, for which I had to face opposition from a section of party leaders,” he said.
When asked whether he would call Lalan Singh to seek his congratulations, Neeraj replied, “There is no question of that.”
He said he had received considerable affection and support from party workers and that those wishing to congratulate him had conveyed their messages through social media and other channels. He maintained that the support of grassroots workers mattered more to him than seeking recognition from individual leaders.
Neeraj also made a pointed remark about repaying what he described as a political debt, further fuelling speculation about the people he had in mind.
“My parents and ancestors taught me that any debt taken must be repaid. I will repay my political debt with interest,” he said, without naming anyone or clarifying the nature of the alleged debt.
The controversy follows a challenging election campaign in which JD(U) managed to win only one of the four seats it contested. The BJP won all three seats it contested, while BJP rebel Rahul Raj secured victory as an Independent candidate from the Saran Teachers' constituency.
Tensions had already surfaced after JD(U) MLA Anant Singh campaigned against Neeraj in the Patna Graduates' constituency and challenged him to forfeit his security deposit.
When Anant Singh was asked whether Neeraj would call him to seek congratulations after winning the election, he questioned why he should congratulate the JD(U) leader.
Neeraj subsequently responded with a similar question, asking whether his political standing had been reduced to calling people and requesting their congratulations. He said he had not entered politics for that purpose and suggested that seeking congratulations from such individuals would only add to one's sins.
Describing the Patna Graduates' election as a battle between dharma and adharma, or righteousness and unrighteousness, Neeraj said the contest was not merely about winning or losing but also about upholding principles.
He maintained that the JD(U) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had stood firmly behind him during the election.
Responding to questions about a legislator from his own party campaigning against him and challenging him over his security deposit, Neeraj asserted that the politics of money and muscle power would no longer work.
“As long as my conscience remains intact, no force in the world can make me bow,” he said.
Taking another swipe at his detractors, Neeraj questioned their reaction to his victory, asking about their health and whether their blood pressure had risen. His comments were widely viewed as a taunt directed at those who had challenged him during the campaign.
Asked whether any efforts had been made to resolve the differences between him and Anant Singh, Neeraj said he had not attempted to broker a settlement. However, he stressed that party members must uphold organisational principles and discipline.
Neeraj's remarks have brought the internal tensions within the JD(U) into sharper focus following the election, although he has not directly named anyone as responsible for the difficulties he claims to have faced during the campaign.