Janata Dal (United) announced on Saturday that it has expelled Mokama MLA Anant Singh and his wife Neelam Devi, imposing a six‑year ban for alleged anti‑party activities. The decision follows Singh’s public support for Jan Suraaj Party candidate Anuj Singh in the Bihar Legislative Council elections, directly contradicting JD(U) directives.
Umesh Singh Kushwaha, the Bihar unit president, said the members’ primary membership was terminated immediately for 'insulting language against the top leadership' and for campaigning against the party. He also urged the Assembly Speaker to terminate Singh’s MLA status under the Tenth Schedule.
Anant Singh, a former gangster turned politician, has controlled the Mokama seat since 1990, except a brief loss to a rival strongman. In 2020, the RJD gave him a ticket, and in 2022 his wife took over after his conviction in a UAPA case led to his disqualification.
The Jan Suraaj Party welcomed the move, calling it a 'necessary step to safeguard the party's integrity.' Neelam Devi denied any wrongdoing, claiming the ban is politically motivated.
The party has requested the Bihar Assembly Speaker to act on the recommendation, which could void Singh’s seat and trigger a by‑poll ahead of the October 27 council elections.
A Mokama resident, who had voted for Singh in the 2022 by‑poll, expressed shock: 'He has been our voice for years; now we have no choice.'