News Desk: Expelled Janata Dal (United) MLA Anant Singh has predicted a major electoral setback for his former party, claiming that the JD(U) could be reduced to just 10–12 seats in the next Bihar Assembly elections. He has also hinted at launching his own political outfit following his expulsion from the party for six years over alleged anti-party activities.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, October 25, Singh said he had no regrets about the disciplinary action taken against him. He questioned the current party leadership and argued that the JD(U) had lost its political strength following former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar's reduced role in the organisation.
“The party belonged to Nitish ji,” Singh said, questioning the contributions of the leaders responsible for his expulsion. He predicted that the party's electoral performance would reveal its actual standing when the next elections are held.
Singh also indicated that he had no intention of joining another political party. Instead, he suggested that he could establish a new political outfit of his own. His remarks have added another dimension to the political uncertainty surrounding the JD(U) ahead of future electoral contests in Bihar.
The JD(U) currently has 84 MLAs in the 243-member Bihar Assembly, making it the second-largest party in the House after its ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party, which has 88 legislators. The JD(U) also has 12 members in the Lok Sabha.
Singh's expulsion followed his decision to campaign for Anuj Singh, the Jan Suraaj Party candidate in the Bihar Legislative Council elections, against JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar. The party viewed his actions as a violation of party discipline.
The JD(U) has also recommended to the Bihar Assembly Speaker that Singh's membership be terminated under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which deals with disqualification on grounds of defection.
Singh's wife, former MLA Neelam Devi, has also been expelled from the JD(U) for six years over alleged anti-party activities.
Despite the confrontation, Singh maintained that his personal relationship with Nitish Kumar remained cordial. He claimed that the action against him would not have occurred if Kumar had continued to exercise control over the party.
Known locally as ‘Chhote Sarkar’, Singh has had a long and eventful political career. He first won the Mokama Assembly seat on a JD(U) ticket in 2005 and retained it in 2010. He later left the party in 2015, contested as an Independent and subsequently joined the Rashtriya Janata Dal before returning to the JD(U) ahead of the November 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.
His latest remarks could signal further political realignment in Bihar. Whether Singh eventually launches a separate party and how much support he can attract will become clearer as the state's political landscape develops.
Reader Comments 0