Expelled Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Arvind Kumar Singh, widely known as Chhotu Singh, has launched a fresh offensive against the party's National Working President Sanjay Kumar Jha, alleging that Jha is lobbying for a Union Cabinet berth and actively working to undermine Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. Singh has simultaneously threatened to release a video that he claims would expose State JD-U President Umesh Kushwaha. The allegations, made in Patna on 21 October 2026, have not been independently verified, and no response from any of the named leaders was available at the time of reporting.

Background: How the Rift Began

Singh was expelled from the JD-U on charges of indiscipline following a public altercation with Jha. The expulsion appears to have deepened his grievances rather than silencing him, with the leader now escalating his attacks on multiple senior party figures. This is the latest flashpoint in what observers describe as simmering factional tensions within the Bihar-based party.

Allegations Against Jha and Kushwaha

Singh accused Jha of leveraging Cabinet reshuffle speculation to advance his own ministerial ambitions, arguing that Jha would struggle to win even a mukhiya (village head) election without the backing of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Targeting Kushwaha, Singh alleged that the State president had been arbitrarily expelling party workers without providing reasons — and claimed that he and his supporters had played a decisive role in securing Kushwaha's own electoral victory. Singh said he possesses a video that would 'expose' Kushwaha and indicated he intends to release it.

Corruption Charges Against Party Leaders

Singh broadened his attack to include Lalan Singh, Maheshwar Hazari, and Shravan Kumar, demanding investigations into their assets. He specifically questioned how Shravan Kumar had accumulated wealth over the past decade, alleging that a facility originally set up as a tobacco product (Gul) factory had been converted into a steel factory. Singh contrasted the alleged wealth of these leaders with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's modest residence in Kalyanbigha, suggesting that any serious probe could lead to criminal proceedings.

Warning to Party Leadership

'A group of four or five people who have no real standing is calling the shots at the party. These people are bent on destroying Nitish Kumar and Nishant Kumar,' Singh alleged. He warned that his campaign against the named JD-U leaders had only just begun and said he was fully prepared to face whatever consequences his allegations might invite.

What Happens Next

With no rebuttal yet from Jha, Kushwaha, or other named leaders, the JD-U faces pressure to respond publicly. The threatened video release could further inflame intra-party tensions at a politically sensitive moment, given ongoing speculation about a Union Cabinet reshuffle. Political analysts will be watching whether the party moves to contain the fallout or allows the dispute to play out in the open.