Archive · 4 Oct 2026
Lalan Singh Offers Neutral Mediation in JD(U) Factional Feud
A disagreement has grown inside the JD(U), a political party in Bihar.
The dispute involves Neeraj Kumar and Anant Kumar Singh.
Anant Singh has shown support for a candidate from another party and said he wants Neeraj to lose.
The JD(U) has asked minister Lalan Singh to help settle the disagreement.
Lalan says he will not choose one side over the other.
He will try to help the people involved talk through their differences.
The party is supporting Neeraj Kumar as its candidate.
Bihar will hold elections for eight Legislative Council seats on October 23.
Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, known as Lalan, said he would mediate between JD(U) factions without taking sides.
The party authorised Lalan to address tensions involving MLC Neeraj Kumar and Mokama MLA Anant Kumar Singh.
Anant Singh accompanied Jan Suraaj Party candidate Anuj Singh to file nomination papers and said he wanted Neeraj Kumar defeated.
Neeraj Kumar, whom Nitish Kumar recently gave the JD(U) ticket, is seeking a fourth consecutive term.
Eight Bihar Legislative Council seats will go to polls on October 23, with counting scheduled for October 27.
- Who
- Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan), JD(U) leaders Neeraj Kumar and Anant Kumar Singh, and Jan Suraaj Party candidate Anuj Singh.
- What
- Lalan said he would seek reconciliation in a JD(U) factional dispute without taking sides.
- When
- Lalan made the remarks on Saturday; the Legislative Council polling is scheduled for October 23.
- Where
- Lalan spoke in his Lok Sabha constituency of Munger, Bihar; the dispute concerns the Patna Graduates’ constituency.
- Why
- The JD(U) authorised Lalan to address tensions after Anant Singh backed a rival candidate and said he wanted Neeraj Kumar defeated.
Lalan’s mediation approach
The factional dispute
How to address the feud
Lalan’s mediation approach
Lalan says he will not take sides and will mediate if the factions are willing to discuss their differences.
The factional dispute
Anant Singh has said he wants Neeraj Kumar defeated and has supported the Jan Suraaj Party candidate Anuj Singh.
The JD(U) candidate
Lalan’s mediation approach
The JD(U) has given Neeraj Kumar its ticket, and party leader Nishant Kumar has begun campaigning for him.
The factional dispute
Anant Singh opposes Neeraj Kumar, whom he suspects of involvement in a conspiracy connected to his arrest; Neeraj has not responded in the report.
- Mediator
- Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, also known as Lalan
- Dispute
- Tensions involving JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar and MLA Anant Kumar Singh
- Rival candidate
- Anuj Singh of the Jan Suraaj Party
- Seats up for election
- Eight Bihar Legislative Council seats
- Polling date
- October 23, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Counting date
- October 27
- Nomination deadline
- October 6