Mokama MLA Anant Singh and Neelam Devi Thrown Out of JDU

The JD(U) has expelled Mokama MLA Anant Singh and his wife Neelam Devi from the party for six years, cancelling their primary memberships with immediate effect. The move comes after Singh openly supported a Jan Suraaj Party candidate in the Bihar Legislative Council elections.

The party has said it will recommend to Speaker Prem Kumar that Singh be declared disqualified as a legislator.

JD(U) has listed multiple grounds for the action. These include continued violations of party directions, the use of inappropriate and derogatory remarks against the top leadership, and campaigning for another party's candidate against the JD(U) nominee in the recent Legislative Council polls.

An official order issued by the party states that Neelam Devi was involved in anti-party activities, which led to the cancellation of her primary membership and her expulsion for six years.

The action was taken a day after voting for the Bihar Legislative Council elections on October 23. Singh had adopted a rebellious stance during the polls and backed Jan Suraaj Party candidate Anuj Singh against the official line of his party.

Signals of dissent were evident on the day of voting itself. After the arrest of his supporter Chhotu Singh, Singh criticised the JD(U) and its candidate Neeraj Kumar. He stated that the authorities had acted in a high-handed manner and that he had been their leader, yet never once had anything been said to Neeraj Kumar on his behalf.

Singh also said that Neeraj Kumar had contested four elections and that his camp had opposed him each time. He added that he had at times opposed Lalan Singh as well, but the party had not responded.

With the expulsion of both husband and wife, the dispute between the Mokama MLA and the party now stands at a critical point.