Anant Singh claims nobody can question his loyalty to Nitish Kumar

Mr. Singh issued the statement against the backdrop of his boycott to JD(U) candidate Neera Kumar Singh contesting from Patna graduates' constituency

The dissent is deepening in Janata Dal (United) ahead of the Bihar Legislative Council Poll after party MLA Anant Singh on Friday (October 16, 2026) said that he supported former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar when he was "nobody" in politics. He also claimed that nobody could question his loyalty towards Mr. Kumar.

While speaking to a news agency, he further alleged, during that period, he even went as far as to have "nine people killed". He also asserted that he has made sacrifices many times for Nitish Kumar and nobody has done what he has done to him.

Mr. Singh issued the statement against the backdrop of his boycott of JD(U) candidate Neera Kumar Singh contesting from Patna graduates' constituency and supporting Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) candidate Anuj Singh.

When asked whether he is challenging the JD(U) and Nitish Kumar, he described himself as a staunch supporter of Nitish Kumar and added that he was not challenging him. "I am not challenging anyone," Mr. Singh said.

Mr. Singh said that the party has made a mistake by giving the ticket to Neeraj Kumar. He claimed that he had stood by Nitish Kumar since the beginning of his political career and that perhaps no one had made as many sacrifices for the party as he had. Mr. Singh also referred to an old political rivalry and alleged that it was Neeraj Kumar who had first opposed his candidature during the 2025, assembly election.

Later in the day, Mr. Singh a strongman representing the Mokama assembly constituency, issued a clarification regarding a statement which has triggered a row in political circles.

Mr. Singh said that his remarks had been misinterpreted. "Some are claiming that I committed nine murders while associated with Nitish Kumar; this is completely false. I said something entirely different, yet something else is being projected. I was saying that for supporting Nitish Kumar ji, my nine people were killed after Nitish ji parted ways with Lalu Prasad."

He added, "I was saying in that sense, I had given sacrifice more than anybody else to Nitish ji. What sacrifice Neeraj Kumar has given, tell me. I will remain with Nitish ji and will stand firmly with the party. At the same time, my stance on Neeraj Kumar will remain unchanged. I will continue to oppose him."

Also, Bihar Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) founder and MLA Prashant Kishor over his alleged remark during a poll campaign that if criminals are getting killed in police encounters, then Samrat Choudhary is the biggest criminal.

Bihar BJP State President Sanjay Saraogi strongly condemned the alleged remarks made by Mr. Kishor and termed it a violation of democratic decorum.

Mr. Saraogi said that Mr. Kishor who claims to represent "new thinking" and the "politics of development", uses such violent language against a Chief Minister -- who holds a constitutional office -- raises serious questions about that individual's political mindset and true intentions.

"Use of such violent rhetoric proves that this is merely an "upgraded, suit-and-boot version" of the Jungle Raj (lawlessness) once associated with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)," Mr. Saraogi said.

He also advised Mr. Kishor to command his language and conduct, adding that violence against a Chief Minister is, under no circumstances, acceptable. He alleged that Mr. Kishor has consistently made statements that tarnish Bihar's image.