Janata Dal (United)'s Neeraj Kumar won the high-stakes Patna Graduate MLC seat on 28 October 2026, defeating Jan Suraaj-backed candidate Anuj Singh and dealing a significant blow to the political clout of Mokama strongman Anant Singh. Speaking to reporters after his victory, Neeraj Kumar attributed his triumph to what he called the 3 'N' formula — a combination of three powerful names that he says tilted the contest in his favour.

The 3 'N' Formula Explained

'I say it again and again. N stands for Nitish Kumar ji, N stands for Nishant Kumar ji, and then N also represents Neeraj Kumar (himself). Also, my serial number was third in row; everything fell in order,' the newly elected MLC told reporters, describing how the alignment of factors proved decisive.

Neeraj Kumar also credited Nishant Kumar — son of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and a state minister — for actively mobilising public opinion in his favour and standing firmly by him throughout the campaign.

The Challenge from Anant Singh's Camp

The contest was far from straightforward. Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Singh entered the race with the open backing of Anant Singh, the influential Mokama MLA who had publicly vowed to defeat Neeraj Kumar and campaigned aggressively for Singh. However, Anuj Singh ultimately finished at third place, a result that underscored how Anant Singh's intervention failed to shift the outcome. The episode also carried consequences for the strongman himself — his open rebellion against the JD(U) candidate led to his expulsion from the party.

A Blow to Mokama's Strongman

Neeraj Kumar's victory is being read as more than a routine MLC win. Anant Singh's ability to dictate electoral outcomes in this constituency had long been treated as axiomatic in Bihar politics. The third-place finish of his preferred candidate, and his subsequent expulsion from JD(U), marks a rare and consequential setback for him. Notably, this is not the first time Anant Singh has been at odds with the party's official line, but the scale of the electoral rebuff adds a new dimension to his waning leverage.

Nitish Kumar's Backing Was Central

This is consistent with how Neeraj Kumar has framed his political identity throughout the campaign. Even after filing his nomination papers earlier this month, he had described Nitish Kumar as the JD(U)'s 'power centre' and said the Chief Minister's blessings would 'help him sail through.' At the time, he had also publicly dismissed Anant Singh as any meaningful challenge in the MLC race.

Victory Remarks and a Sharp Jibe

After his win, a visibly elated Neeraj Kumar did not hold back. Seated in his car while addressing reporters, he delivered a pointed jab in the local Magahi dialect: 'Kahan hai re Gunjan, le ja mithaiya!' ('Where are you, Gunjan? Take these sweets!') — drawing cheers from supporters gathered around him. The remark is widely seen as a direct taunt aimed at those who backed the rival camp.

The result reinforces Neeraj Kumar's standing within Bihar's state politics and signals that Nitish Kumar's organisational muscle remains a decisive force in graduate constituency elections even when faced with internal dissent.