Janata Dal (United) candidate Neeraj Kumar on Monday, 5 October 2025, filed his nomination papers for the Patna Graduates' constituency seat in the Bihar Legislative Council, even as a simmering dispute between him and Mokama MLA Anant Singh threatened to spill into public view. Senior party leader and Union Minister Lalan Singh stepped in swiftly, attempting to contain the fallout before it could damage the party ahead of the upcoming council election.

What Triggered the Dispute

The tensions trace back to the recent Bihar Assembly election. According to Lalan Singh, Anant Singh alleged that Neeraj Kumar had actively campaigned against him during the Mokama contest — and had worked with political opponents to run a campaign against him. Anant Singh reportedly also claimed that Neeraj Kumar had similarly worked against Lalan Singh in the Lok Sabha election, though Lalan Singh declined to comment at length on that specific allegation.

The backdrop to Anant Singh's grievance is significant. He said that when a no-confidence motion was brought against the Bihar government, several JD-U leaders had approached him seeking his support for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's administration. Anant Singh agreed, out of respect for Nitish Kumar, and the then Chief Minister subsequently suggested he contest the Assembly election from Mokama himself. Anant Singh contends that what followed — an alleged smear campaign during the contest — represented a fundamental breakdown of party discipline.

Lalan Singh's Intervention

JD-U National Working President Sanjay Jha had already signalled he would ask Lalan Singh to resolve the dispute. Lalan Singh confirmed he received a call from Jha and then spoke directly to Anant Singh. He acknowledged candidly that the party's state unit had 'faltered' in addressing the situation when the alleged campaign against Anant Singh was under way. 'Every action has a reaction,' Lalan Singh said, in remarks that amounted to a partial validation of Anant Singh's grievance.

Lalan Singh also confirmed that Neeraj Kumar had indeed been involved in the campaign against Anant Singh — a concession that adds weight to the MLA's complaint. Despite this, Lalan Singh urged Anant Singh to refrain from making further public statements against Neeraj Kumar. According to Lalan Singh, Anant Singh agreed and assured him he would not make further public remarks on the issue. Anant Singh also reiterated his commitment to the JD-U.

Anant Singh's Core Demand

Anant Singh's position, as conveyed by Lalan Singh, was unambiguous: he could not seek votes for someone who had not sought votes for him. He had raised the matter at an earlier party meeting attended by both him and Neeraj Kumar, but said his questions were not adequately answered at that forum. His broader argument was that if Nitish Kumar had personally asked him to contest from Mokama, then any attempt by another party leader to campaign against him should have been treated as a disciplinary matter by the organisation.

What This Means for the JD-U

With Neeraj Kumar now formally in the race for the Patna Graduates' constituency, the episode has laid bare persistent fissures within the JD-U. The party finds itself managing a credibility problem: a sitting MLA's loyalty cannot be taken for granted on the council election trail, and the very public airing of these grievances — even if now partially contained — signals that intra-party trust remains fragile. Lalan Singh's intervention appears aimed primarily at preventing further public damage rather than resolving the underlying dispute. Whether Anant Singh's silence translates into active support for Neeraj Kumar remains an open question as the election approaches.