Mokama MLA Anant Singh drew attention on a Friday with a statement in which he asserted that nine people had lost their lives at his direction in support of JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar during the latter's early years in politics, adding that he had made personal sacrifices on Kumar's behalf at that stage of his career.
At a Jan Suraaj Party rally for candidate Anuj Singh, Anant told the gathered crowd that no other party figure had sacrificed as much in support of Nitish Kumar as he himself had. He told those present that during the period he was aligned with Nitish Kumar, nine people were killed on his orders, and described himself as a steadfast backer of Kumar whose allegiance had not wavered.
Anant raised objections to the JD(U)'s choice of Neeraj Kumar as its candidate for the Patna Graduates' constituency in the MLC elections, publicly asking whether anyone else had made comparable sacrifices. He noted that at that point in time, Nitish Kumar had held no political standing of note and had moved from place to place.
In the Patna Graduates' constituency, Anant finds himself in a direct electoral contest with Neeraj Kumar, the JD(U) candidate. Voters in that contest are set to go to the polls on October 23.
He told reporters that his decision to back Anuj came down to the nature of the contest — one not fought along party lines — and that his relationship with the leadership had never involved any challenge on his part.
Reports of a rift between Anant and Neeraj have circulated widely, though neither party has made any formal statement on the matter. Anant had previously stated that his opposition to Neeraj stemmed from Neeraj having worked against him during the earlier Mokama Assembly seat contest, and he went on record pledging to bring about Neeraj's defeat in the upcoming vote.
Anant, who goes by the nickname 'Chhote Sarkar', is reported to wield a strong political presence across the Mokama area of Patna district. Reconciliation attempts by senior party figures ultimately came to nothing, leaving the rift between the two leaders unresolved. Intervention by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, who goes by Lalan Singh, did not bring the situation under control.
A JD(U) legislator's decision to contest the forthcoming election independently has introduced discord within the party's ranks. Umesh Singh Kushwaha, the JD(U) state president, had put Anant on notice over his failure to follow party directives, yet Anant held his ground, telling reporters that his earlier position remained unchanged.
Prashant Kishor, the Bankipur MLA who established Jan Suraaj Party, took to the campaign trail to rally support behind his party's candidate. Kishor contended that votes had been cast in Nitish's name yet Samrat had ended up occupying the chief minister's post, and he called on voters to back candidates opposing the NDA alliance as a way of registering their view against Samrat's continuation in that role. He also raised questions about whether someone under active criminal charges could legitimately lead a government.
