Mokama MLA Anant Singh and Janata Dal (United) MLC Neeraj Kumar are once again locked in an open confrontation, with their decades-old rivalry resurfacing sharply ahead of the Patna Graduate Constituency Legislative Council election. The latest round of hostilities broke out on Saturday, 19 September 2026, when Singh publicly challenged Kumar to a face-to-face debate and reportedly offered a ₹20-crore wager to settle their long-running disputes.

The Latest Challenge

Singh called upon Kumar to meet him near a Hanuman temple in Patna for an open public discussion on all contentious issues between them. 'Let us sit across from each other and debate face-to-face. We will settle all scores,' Singh said. He has also renewed his demand for a narco-analysis test on Kumar, arguing it would help establish the truth behind his allegations. Kumar, for his part, has categorically denied Singh's claims and maintained that anyone with evidence should present it before a court.

Roots of the Rivalry: The 2015 Mokama Election

The origins of this feud trace back to the 2015 Bihar Assembly elections. Singh, then a dominant political figure in Mokama, had been arrested in June 2015 in connection with a murder case. The JD(U) subsequently fielded Kumar from the Mokama constituency in his place. Singh entered as an Independent candidate and won convincingly, defeating Kumar by 18,348 votes. The campaign was marked by sharp personal attacks, with Kumar repeatedly citing Singh's criminal cases while Singh's camp portrayed Kumar as his primary political adversary.

The 2019 Arms Case and Its Aftermath

The most significant flashpoint in their rivalry came in August 2019, when police raided Singh's ancestral residence in Ladma village in Bihar's Barh subdivision. Investigators claimed to have recovered an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, and hand grenades from the premises. Singh subsequently surrendered before a Delhi court. He has consistently maintained that he was framed in the case and has again alleged — without this being established — that Kumar played a role in planting the weapons. Kumar has denied the allegation and reiterated that evidence, if any, must be placed before the court. The arms case led to Singh's conviction by a special court and the loss of his Assembly membership. The Patna High Court granted him relief in August 2024, leading to his release from jail.

MLC Election and the Current Stakes

Kumar's name has featured prominently in discussions around the upcoming 2026 Patna Graduate Constituency MLC election. Singh has made clear he will not back Kumar's candidature, instead throwing his support behind independent candidate Dr Anuj Singh. He has also clarified that his opposition is directed at Kumar personally and should not be read as opposition to the JD(U) as a party — a distinction that reflects the complex intra-party dynamics at play. Singh returned to the JD(U) fold after his release but the reconciliation has not bridged his differences with Kumar.

Personal Dimensions of a Political Feud

Beyond electoral calculations, the confrontation has acquired a personal dimension over the years. Local political circles have noted references to Kumar allegedly using the nickname 'Pudina Singh' for the Mokama MLA, adding to the texture of a rivalry that blends politics, personal grievance, and unresolved legal disputes. With the MLC election campaign gathering pace, the renewed face-off has injected a fresh layer of political intrigue into what is already a closely watched contest in Patna.