Daijiworld Media Network - Patna
Patna, Oct 1: Differences between JD(U) MLA Anant Singh and party candidate Neeraj Kumar came to the fore on Thursday after the Mokama legislator publicly backed Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) candidate Anuj Singh for the Patna Graduates’ seat in the Bihar Legislative Council elections.
Anant Singh accompanied Anuj during his nomination filing and also participated in a procession supporting the JSP candidate. He was seen waving the party’s yellow ‘gamcha’.
Anuj Singh has been fielded by Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor, while Neeraj Kumar is the JD(U)’s official candidate and is seeking re-election from the Patna Graduates’ constituency. Anant has said he will campaign for Anuj Singh and oppose Neeraj Kumar.
“I don’t know who is saying what about the MLC polls. But one thing is sure that Anuj will win the election. I consider people as ‘Malik’ who are with us,” Anant said.
Explaining his opposition to Neeraj, Anant alleged that the JD(U) leader had opposed him on several occasions. “So, I must pay him back in the same coin,” he said. Reports said the differences between the two leaders date back to the 2015 Assembly elections, when Anant contested the Mokama seat as an Independent after being denied a JD(U) ticket and retained the constituency.
Neeraj Kumar, meanwhile, said voters would decide whom to support in the October 23 election. “It is not any individual’s choice. In democracy, everybody has the right to say anything about anybody,” he told reporters.
Asked about the filing of his nomination, Neeraj said VIPs would be present and added, “Let us wait for the opportune time. Everything will be clear.”
Both Anant and Neeraj belong to the Bhumihar community and are associated with the Mokama-Barh region. Anant is also considered influential in the area. The Mokama Assembly segment falls under the Munger Lok Sabha constituency represented by JD(U) MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh.
The dispute has already reached the JD(U) leadership. A meeting was held to try to broker a compromise between the two leaders, but no resolution was reached. Party leaders have largely refrained from commenting on the issue.
Former minister and JD(U) leader Shyam Rajak said the party president had been informed about Anant’s stand and indicated that appropriate action could be considered at an appropriate time. He also reiterated the NDA’s objective of securing victory for all eight candidates contesting the Graduate and Teachers’ constituencies.
The Bihar Legislative Council elections are being held for eight seats — four Graduate constituencies and four Teachers’ constituencies. The polling is scheduled for October 23.