The contest for the Patna Graduates' constituency in the Bihar Legislative Council elections sharpened on Sunday, 4 October 2026, as state Minister and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's son Nishant Kumar publicly threw his weight behind the Janata Dal-United (JD-U)'s official nominee Neeraj Kumar, appealing for a victory 'with a huge margin.' The move came in direct response to senior JD-U MLA Anant Singh's open defiance — backing Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) rival Anuj Singh instead.

The Rebel Factor: Anant Singh's Open Defiance

Anant Singh, the JD-U MLA from Mokama and a former aide of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has openly declared support for JSP candidate Anuj Singh, who is fielded by Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor for the Patna Graduates' seat. Singh has been actively campaigning against the party's official candidate, in a rare and public breach of JD-U discipline. Bihar JD-U President Umesh Kushwaha has termed Anant Singh's stance 'incorrect' and stated that the party's top leadership is keeping close watch on the situation.

Nishant Kumar's Public Appeal

A meeting of JD-U leaders and workers — specifically from the Patna Graduates' and Teachers' constituencies — was convened at the party office in Patna, ahead of nomination filing scheduled for Monday. Speaking to the media after the meeting, Nishant Kumar made his party's stance unambiguous.

'I appeal to all graduate and teacher voters in Patna to ensure massive victory for our NDA candidate. Neeraj ji has been associated with the party since the Samata era. He is a socialist and has been a dedicated party worker. He has always remained committed to the party's ideology. I urge you to ensure that Neeraj ji wins by a huge margin,' Nishant Kumar said.

He further argued that voting for Neeraj Kumar would carry forward the governance legacy of former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the past 20 years, and continue the development agenda under current Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.

What This Signals for the JD-U

Nishant Kumar's direct intervention is widely seen as an indicator of the JD-U top brass's displeasure with Anant Singh's rebellion. Prior to the meeting, Neeraj Kumar had also held a meeting with former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, further signalling the importance the party attaches to the seat. This comes amid a broader contest between the NDA bloc and Prashant Kishor's JSP, which is making its first significant electoral foray in Bihar's upper house elections.

The Stakes for Both Sides

The Patna Graduates' constituency has historically been a prestige seat, and the internal rupture within JD-U hands JSP an opportunity to build credibility ahead of future elections. Notably, the simultaneous friction over the Teachers' constituency workers being invited to Sunday's meeting suggests that JD-U is on alert on multiple fronts. All eyes are now on whether Anant Singh faces disciplinary action and how the vote on the constituency plays out.