Patna: The political confrontation between the Janata Dal (United) and Mokama MLA Anant Singh escalated on Monday, with the party formally seeking the termination of his Assembly membership following his six-year expulsion.
JD(U) state President Umesh Kushwaha visited the Bihar Legislative Assembly and submitted a recommendation letter to Speaker Prem Kumar, along with a 10-page dossier containing documentary evidence, including video footage, against the MLA.
Kushwaha said Anant Singh had acted against the party’s interests by campaigning against its official candidate, Neeraj Kumar, in the recent Bihar Legislative Council election for the Patna Graduates’ constituency.
Instead, the Mokama MLA openly supported Anuj Singh, the Jan Suraaj candidate, and appealed for votes in his favour.
According to Kushwaha, Anant Singh had also repeatedly made statements against the party leadership, prompting the JD(U) to initiate disciplinary proceedings and expel him for six years.
The JD(U) state president said he visited the Assembly to enquire about the status of the recommendation and met the Assembly Secretary.
He indicated that the matter was being processed and that a formal notice was expected to be issued.
The party’s move has brought Anant Singh’s legislative future into focus.
However, his expulsion from the JD(U) does not automatically end his membership of the Assembly.
Any disqualification under the anti-defection provisions of the Constitution would require consideration by the competent authority under the prescribed procedure.
The controversy originated during the Legislative Council election campaign, when Anant Singh openly opposed his own party’s candidate, Neeraj Kumar and declared that he would not allow him to win.
He subsequently campaigned for Anuj Singh in areas including Patna, Nalanda, and Nawada, deepening his confrontation with the JD(U) leadership.
Meanwhile, Anant Singh’s wife, former MLA Neelam Devi, has also faced administrative consequences.
She has reportedly been removed from the state’s 20-Point Programme Implementation Committee, and the minister-of-state status previously accorded to her has been withdrawn.
The developments mark a further escalation in the dispute between Anant Singh and the JD(U), with the party pursuing action against both his political standing and his Assembly membership.
The next steps will depend on the Speaker’s consideration of the disqualification recommendation and the applicable constitutional procedure.
(IANS)
