JD(U) Defends Nitish Kumar After Anant Singh Claims He Got Nine People Murdered

Patna, October 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)

The Janata Dal (United) on Saturday defended its president and former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after Mokama MLA Anant Singh triggered a political controversy by claiming that he had got nine people murdered while supporting Kumar during the early stages of his political career.

JD(U) Working National President Sanjay Jha said Singh had issued a clarification on his remarks and that the matter was known to the party’s state leadership.

“His statement came out, and he has also issued a clarification. The matter is in the knowledge of the state party leadership,” Jha told reporters.

JD(U) spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan strongly defended Kumar, describing his five-decade political career as unblemished and saying he had never encouraged violence, crime or negative politics.

“Former Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) National President Nitish Kumar is among the few politicians whose 50-year parliamentary career has remained unblemished, with no stain on his record,” Ranjan told IANS. He added that Kumar had maintained a clean record despite facing political challenges.

BJP national spokesperson Guru Prakash described the controversy as an internal matter of the JD(U) and expressed confidence that the party would resolve the differences.

“This is an internal matter of the JD(U). They have two candidates from within their party. We are confident that they will sit together, reach a consensus and resolve the issue,” he said.

Singh sparked the controversy on Friday when he claimed to have made significant sacrifices for Kumar during the latter’s early political career.

“I have made major sacrifices for Nitish Kumar during his initial political career. No other member of the party has made such a sacrifice as I made for him,” Singh said.

He then alleged that, while supporting Kumar at the time, he had “got nine people murdered”. Singh did not withdraw his support for Kumar, insisting that he remained a devoted supporter and had never challenged his leadership.

The Mokama MLA said he had decided to back Anuj in the upcoming election to the Patna Graduates’ constituency, arguing that such elections were not contested strictly along party lines. The election is scheduled for October 23. Singh also criticised the JD(U)’s decision to nominate Neeraj Kumar for the MLC seat.

The rivalry between Singh and Neeraj Kumar has been longstanding. Singh has accused Neeraj of working against him in earlier Mokama Assembly elections and vowed to ensure his defeat in the upcoming contest.

Popularly known as “Chhote Sarkar”, Anant Singh commands considerable influence in the Mokama region of Patna district. Efforts by senior JD(U) leaders, including Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, alias Lalan Singh, to settle the differences have reportedly failed to ease the tensions.