Patna, Oct 6 (IANS) : The internal rift within the JD(U) over the Patna Graduates’ constituency has taken a new turn, with the party leadership seeking to contain differences between Mokama MLA Anant Singh and JD(U) candidate Neeraj Kumar ahead of the Legislative Council elections in Bihar.
JD(U) National Working President and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kumar Jha has defended the party’s decision to entrust Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh with resolving the differences, saying Lalan Singh had done what was best for the party.
The intervention comes after Anant Singh publicly extended his support to Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Kumar Singh and indicated that he would not campaign for Neeraj Kumar, whom the JD(U) has fielded from the Patna Graduates’ constituency.
The JD(U) has now authorised Lalan Singh to mediate between Anant Singh and Neeraj Kumar after the dispute became public.
Jha had earlier said the party was aware of grievances between the two leaders and had asked Lalan Singh to resolve the matter through discussions. Lalan Singh subsequently spoke to Anant Singh and said the Mokama MLA had raised several grievances concerning the previous Assembly election.
According to Lalan Singh, Anant Singh alleged that he had faced opposition and a campaign against him during the election and felt that the party leadership should have intervened at the time.
Lalan Singh acknowledged there had been a lapse on the part of the state party leadership. He also quoted Anant Singh as saying that he would not seek votes for someone who had not sought votes for him.
Despite the differences, Lalan Singh said Anant Singh had agreed not to make further public statements against Neeraj Kumar that could harm the party.
The development is being viewed as an attempt by the JD(U) leadership to prevent the dispute from escalating publicly while ensuring that its official candidate receives organisational support during the Council election campaign.
Lalan Singh has said that his approach is to facilitate reconciliation without taking sides.
The dispute became more prominent after Anant Singh accompanied Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Kumar Singh during his nomination process and publicly backed his candidature. The move was seen as a direct challenge to Neeraj Kumar, who is seeking another term from the Patna Graduates’ constituency.
The differences between Anant Singh and Neeraj Kumar predate the current Legislative Council election. Their political rivalry dates back to the 2015 Assembly election, when Anant Singh contested the Mokama seat as an independent after parting ways with the JD(U), while the party fielded Neeraj Kumar.
The latest dispute has acquired greater significance because the two leaders are now on opposing sides of the campaign for the Patna Graduates’ constituency. The JD(U) leadership’s focus is now on containing the public disagreement and maintaining organisational cohesion around Neeraj Kumar’s candidature.
Sanjay Jha’s support for Lalan Singh’s mediation indicates that the party is currently favouring dialogue over escalation.
Neeraj Kumar has filed his nomination for the Patna Graduates’ seat, while Jan Suraaj has fielded Anuj Kumar Singh. The election is scheduled for October 23, with counting set for October 27.
