JD(U) Split Turns Patna Graduate MLC Race Into Internal Showdown

JD(U) official Neeraj Kumar faces an internal challenge as party MLA Anant Singh backs rival Jan Suraaj Party’s candidate for the Patna Graduate seat. The eight MLC elections in Bihar are scheduled for Oct 23, and the Patna Graduate constituency, covering Patna, Nalanda and Nawada, has about 80,000 registered graduate voters. Neeraj, the JD(U) chief spokesperson, is contesting his fourth straight term, while Anant, also a JD(U) MLA from Mokama, is campaigning for JSP nominee Anuj Singh. Their rivalry dates back to the 2015 Assembly poll, where Neeraj lost to Anant, who ran as an independent. Anant, who has several criminal cases, has openly criticised Neeraj and says he will not withdraw support for the JSP candidate.

Reaction

JD(U) senior leaders, including Union minister Rajeev Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) and national working president Sanjay Kumar Jha, have refused to intervene, and the party has taken no disciplinary action against Anant. JSP founder Prashant Kishor offered to pull his candidate if former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar releases a genuine video endorsing Neeraj. Kishor’s campaign stresses education and promises 10,000 private‑sector jobs over five years, echoing his Bankipur pledge. RJD’s national spokesperson Subodh Kumar Mehta said the JD(U) infighting could benefit RJD’s candidate Dilip Kumar, who previously ran as a Congress nominee.

Context

In Bihar’s Legislative Council, 164 candidates vie for eight seats, with results due on Oct 27. Internal splits like this can sway voter sentiment in graduate constituencies, where personal networks often influence outcomes.