CONFLICT IN JD(U) OVER ANANT SINGH’S TICKET

CONFLICT IN JD(U) OVER ANANT SINGH’S TICKET

13-AUG-ENG 5

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA-----------------------As soon as he came out of jail, former Mokama MLA Anant Singh had announced to contest the assembly elections on JDU ticket, but it does not seem that his ticket has been confirmed yet, because after meeting Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union Minister Lallan Singh in Patna, he has gone 'silent'. Chief spokesperson Neeraj Kumar, who contested the election from Mokama on JDU ticket in 2015, is saying openly that no one's ticket is confirmed. Meanwhile, today Minister Ashok Chaudhary has met 'Chhote Sarkar'.

JDU General Secretary and Minister in Nitish Cabinet Ashok Chaudhary went to Anant Singh's residence in Patna and met him. The two leaders talked for a long time. During this, the former MLA also showed his stable to the minister. While talking to journalists, Ashok Chaudhary said that he is our old acquaintance.

Ashok Chaudhary said that when my father was contesting the 1990 elections. In those days, our party's (Janata Dal) candidate was contesting from Mokama, we went there to seek support from Anant Singh. He also supported us. Hence, we are associated with him since 1990. Also, Mokama is adjacent to Barbigha assembly seat, hence his people have been with us.

When the minister was asked this question that there is a dispute in JDU regarding Anant Singh. Party's chief spokesperson Neeraj Kumar says that how will he get a ticket from Mokama? In such a situation, why this meeting? On this question, Ashok Chaudhary said that meeting someone does not mean that someone will get the ticket.

Meeting someone does not mean that he will get the ticket but we know that Anant Singh is a strong and powerful contender of Janata Dal United. If he gets the ticket, he will definitely win and the party will win the seat comfortably.'” – Ashok Chaudhary, Minister, Bihar Government

First Anant Singh met Nitish Kumar, then Lallan Singh and now Ashok Chaudhary, making Mokama a hot seat. The question is also that has Anant Singh not got the assurance of getting a ticket from Mokama? Actually, as soon as he came out of jail, Anant Singh had announced that 'I will contest from Mokama', but there is a difference of opinion in JDU on this claim of Anant Singh. According to JDU spokesperson Neeraj Kumar, 'Anant Singh is giving statements to remain in the headlines.'

On the political meeting, JDU spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said that everyone should meet everyone but no one said that the ticket has been finalized. Will the party follow protocol or will the party run on the statement? He further said that if a person with a Bahubali image contests the election, I will not go for election campaign. I will not go that way even by mistake.

On the political meeting, JDU spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said that everyone should meet everyone but no one said that the ticket has been finalized. Party Will the protocol work or will the party run on the statement? He further said that if a person with a Bahubali image contests the election, I will not go for election campaign. I will not go that way even by mistake.

Let us tell you that Anant Singh came out of Beur Jail on August 6 after getting bail from Patna High Court. On August 9, he went to the CM residence and met Chief Minister and JDU President Nitish Kumar. There was a conversation between the two leaders for about 15 minutes. However, Anant did not talk to the journalists after coming out. Since that day he has been keeping distance from journalists regarding the ticket.

At the same time, after meeting the Chief Minister, the very next day i.e. on August 10, he met former JDU President and Union Minister Lallan Singh. According to sources, Anant Singh expressed his claim on the Mokama seat in front of him. However, there is talk that a very encouraging answer was not received. Lallan Singh is an MP from Munger Lok Sabha seat and Mokama assembly constituency also comes in this Lok Sabha constituency. In the 2024 elections, Lallan Singh lagged behind the RJD candidate here

Ever since Bahubali Anant Singh entered electoral politics He has come in, has never lost. He has won every assembly election from 2005 to 2020. He became MLA on the symbol of Janata Dal United in the assembly elections of February 2005, November 2005 and 2010. When Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav formed an alliance in 2015, he won as an independent candidate. At the same time, he reached the assembly on RJD ticket in the 2020 elections.

When Anant Singh lost his MLA post after being convicted in the AK-47 recovery case in 2022, his wife Neelam Devi contested the by-election on RJD symbol and won. However, when Nitish Kumar got the trust vote in February 2024, Neelam voted in favor of the government. Later during the Lok Sabha elections, she also campaigned in favor of JDU candidate Lallan Singh.