JD-U MLA Anant Singh slams Tejashwi Yadav over Jamui case, backs encounter
Synopsis
JD-U MLA Anant Kumar Singh did not just push back at Tejashwi Yadav over the Jamui molestation case — he endorsed the encounter of the accused and simultaneously defied his own party by backing a rival candidate in the Patna Graduate MLC polls. A single press interaction has exposed both a cross-party confrontation and a deepening intra-JD-U fracture.
Key Takeaways
JD-U MLA Anant Kumar Singh on 22 September accused Tejashwi Yadav of 'vote-bank politics' over his criticism of the Bihar government in the Jamui molestation case .
Tejashwi Yadav had earlier demanded the resignation of Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary , saying women are 'not safe anywhere in the state.' Singh openly endorsed the encounter of an accused in the Jamui case, saying 'such people should be killed immediately.' Defying party lines, Singh declared support for Anuj Singh , backed by Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party , in the Patna Graduate MLC polls — against incumbent JD-U MLC Neeraj Kumar .
Last week, Singh reportedly offered a ₹20 crore wager and challenged Neeraj Kumar to a public debate near a Hanuman temple in Patna .
Their rivalry dates to the 2015 Bihar Assembly elections , when JD-U fielded Kumar from Mokama after Singh's arrest in a murder case.
Janata Dal-United (JD-U) MLA Anant Kumar Singh on Tuesday, 22 September sharply criticised Bihar Leader of Opposition and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav for his attack on the state government over the Jamui molestation case, accusing him of indulging in 'vote-bank politics'. The remarks came hours after Tejashwi demanded the resignation of Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, claiming the incident proved that 'women and girls are not safe anywhere in the state.'
Singh's Rebuttal to Tejashwi
Dismissing the Opposition's criticism, Anant Kumar Singh told reporters: 'Pay no heed to what he (Tejashwi Yadav) says...these people are merely engaging in vote-bank politics.' He urged citizens to take personal responsibility for preventing such incidents rather than looking to political figures for answers. 'People involved in such crimes will have to face punishment,' he added.
MLA Backs Encounter of Accused
Singh went further by openly endorsing the encounter of an accused in the Jamui molestation case, stating: 'The (Bihar) government is doing the right thing regarding this incident. Such people should be killed immediately.' He called on the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with the police, arguing that law enforcement cannot act effectively without community support. 'There should be action if such an incident takes place...such people should be encountered,' he said.
Internal JD-U Revolt Over MLC Polls
Adding to the political turbulence, Singh broke openly with his own party by declaring support for Anuj Singh, a candidate backed by Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party, in the upcoming Member of Legislative Council (MLC) polls for the Patna Graduate constituency. This puts him in direct conflict with JD-U's chief spokesperson and incumbent MLC Neeraj Kumar, who is seeking re-election from the same seat. 'I am supporting Anuj Singh; he is the one who will win,' Anant Kumar Singh declared.
A Rivalry Rooted in 2015
The feud between Singh and Neeraj Kumar stretches back to the 2015 Bihar Assembly elections, when Singh — then a dominant figure in Mokama — was arrested in connection with a murder case in June 2015. JD-U subsequently fielded Kumar from the Mokama constituency in his absence. Last week, Singh escalated the conflict by challenging Kumar to a face-to-face public debate near a Hanuman temple in Patna, and reportedly offered a ₹20 crore wager to settle their long-running disputes. 'Let us sit across from each other and debate face-to-face. We will settle all scores,' Singh said. This is now among the most publicly acrimonious intra-party rifts within JD-U ahead of a state election cycle.
What Happens Next
The MLC polls will serve as an immediate test of where grassroots loyalties lie within Bihar's ruling alliance. Singh's open defiance of the party line — and his backing of a Jan Suraaj-supported candidate — could force JD-U leadership to take disciplinary action, or risk the revolt spreading ahead of a broader electoral contest.
Point of View
But the MLC gambit is the more structurally significant move: it tests whether Prashant Kishor's grassroots network can prise open cracks in Bihar's ruling alliance before the next assembly cycle. If JD-U does not respond with visible action, similar public defections could follow.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did JD-U MLA Anant Kumar Singh criticise Tejashwi Yadav?
Singh accused Tejashwi Yadav of indulging in 'vote-bank politics' after the RJD leader called for Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary's resignation over the Jamui molestation case. Singh argued that citizens, not politicians, must take responsibility for preventing such crimes.
What is the Jamui molestation case?
The Jamui molestation case is an incident in Bihar's Jamui district that triggered a political row after Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav claimed it showed women were unsafe across the state. One of the accused was reportedly encountered by police, a move Singh publicly endorsed.
Why is Anant Kumar Singh defying his own party JD-U?
Singh is openly supporting Anuj Singh, a Jan Suraaj Party-backed candidate, in the Patna Graduate MLC polls rather than the JD-U's own nominee, incumbent MLC Neeraj Kumar. Their rivalry goes back to 2015, when Kumar was fielded from Mokama after Anant Singh's arrest in a murder case.
What is the ₹20 crore wager Anant Singh reportedly offered Neeraj Kumar?
Last week, Singh reportedly offered a ₹20 crore wager to settle disputes with Neeraj Kumar and challenged him to a face-to-face public debate near a Hanuman temple in Patna. The offer was framed as an attempt to resolve their long-running political rivalry publicly.
What could happen next in JD-U over this rebellion?
JD-U leadership may face pressure to take disciplinary action against Singh for backing a rival party's candidate in the MLC polls. If no action is taken, it could embolden further dissent within the party ahead of the Bihar electoral cycle.
