Anant Singh became a pawn in the internal war between Lalan Singh and Sanjay Jha.

The big game of supremacy going on within the ruling Janata Dal United (JDU) in the politics of Bihar has now been completely exposed on the streets and intersections. The political temperature of the state has reached sky high after Mokama’s famous strongman MLA Anant Singh and his wife Neelam Devi were expelled from JDU for 6 years and the recommendation to cancel their assembly membership. But at the center of this entire action is not just the MLC Election dispute, but the ongoing internal war of supremacy between the two tallest stalwarts of the party – Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh and JDU National Working President Sanjay Jha. There is now a strong discussion in the political circles that Anant Singh has become the scapegoat in this power game and check-mate battle between Lalan Singh and Sanjay Jha.

The first spark of this internal discord was ignited during the Patna graduate elections of Bihar Legislative Council. When Anant Singh, who had openly contested against JDU’s official candidate Neeraj Kumar, supported Jansuraj candidate, it was considered indiscipline of the party. However, by the time the matter was about to be resolved, Lalan Singh had intervened and given the statement that “clapping cannot be done with one hand” and the party had also committed some mistake. But on the other hand, Sanjay Jha and other party strategists considered it a direct challenge. Lalan Singh’s efforts to protect the Mokama MLA and the pressure for strict action by the Sanjay Jha camp completely exposed the rift between the two big power centers within the party.

Immediately after the order for disciplinary action was issued against Anant Singh and his wife, when the media surrounded Lalan Singh and Sanjay Jha together in Delhi, the scene seen there told the whole story. On the question of expulsion, Lalan Singh directly pointed towards Sanjay Jha and said, “This is a matter under his jurisdiction, talk to him” and he left in the car. At the same time, when Sanjay Jha was asked a question, he also maintained silence and moved ahead without saying anything. The two top pillars of the central leadership shifting the responsibility on each other in front of the media and maintaining silence proves that there is a deep tussle going on within JDU regarding decisions.

After being shown the way out of JDU and sending a letter to the Speaker to cancel the assembly membership, Anant Singh, popularly known as ‘Chhote Sarkar’, has also toughened his stance. Anant Singh, who has a strong support base in Mokama, has indicated that he may choose a new political path with his supporters in the coming times. Experts of Bihar politics believe that ignoring Anant Singh’s direct hold in Mokama and surrounding Bhumihar dominated areas can prove costly for JDU in the upcoming assembly elections. At present, the eyes of entire Bihar are fixed on the political storm arising out of this internal war between Lalan Singh and Sanjay Jha.