Patna, 24 October (H.S.): The Janata Dal (United) on Saturday expelled Mokama MLA Anant Kumar Singh and his wife, Neelam Devi, from the party for six years, cancelling their primary membership over alleged indiscipline and campaigning against the party’s official candidate in the Bihar Legislative Council elections.

JD(U) state president Umesh Singh Kushwaha issued a letter announcing the decision shortly after polling for the Legislative Council elections concluded.

According to the letter, Anant Singh had repeatedly disregarded party directives in recent days. He was accused of using inappropriate and insulting language against the party’s senior leadership, working against the JD(U)’s officially nominated candidate in the recently concluded election, and campaigning in support of a candidate from another party.

Citing these activities as violations of party discipline, the JD(U) cancelled Anant Kumar Singh’s primary membership and expelled him for six years.

The party has also recommended to the Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly that Singh’s membership as an MLA be terminated under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which deals with disqualification on grounds of defection.

His wife, Neelam Devi, has likewise been accused of engaging in activities against the party. The JD(U) cancelled her primary membership and expelled her for six years as well.

The action follows a political dispute involving Anant Singh, the Mokama legislator popularly known as ‘Chhote Sarkar’, and JD(U) candidate Neeraj Kumar in the Patna Graduates’ constituency election. Singh had openly campaigned against Neeraj Kumar and extended his support to Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Singh.

Reports indicate that the party made several attempts to persuade Singh to reconsider his position before polling, but he remained firm in his decision. He also met Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during the dispute. Despite these efforts, Singh continued to oppose Neeraj Kumar and back Anuj Singh.

Singh had alleged that Neeraj Kumar worked against him during an Assembly election. Citing this longstanding grievance, he decided to campaign against the JD(U)’s official candidate in the Legislative Council election.

During the election campaign, Singh also attracted attention for a controversial statement in which he claimed to have had nine people killed for Nitish Kumar. He later clarified his remarks, saying that he had intended to convey that he had made sacrifices for Nitish Kumar and that nine people associated with him had been killed during the tenure of the government led by Lalu Prasad Yadav.

The statement triggered considerable discussion in political circles. The JD(U)’s decision to expel Singh and his wife comes amid the escalating dispute over his opposition to the party’s official candidate and the allegations of indiscipline.

However, any decision on terminating Singh’s membership of the Bihar Legislative Assembly will rest with the Speaker and must follow the applicable constitutional procedure.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar