Patna: The Janata Dal (United) has expelled Mokama MLA Anant Kumar Singh and his wife, former MLA Neelam Devi, from the party for six years, citing alleged anti-party activities. The party has also cancelled their primary memberships with immediate effect.
In a significant disciplinary action, the JD(U) has recommended that the membership of Anant Singh as a Bihar Legislative Assembly member be cancelled under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, commonly known as the anti-defection law.
The decision was announced through an office order issued by Bihar JD(U) State President Umesh Singh Kushwaha.
According to the order, Anant Singh was accused of repeatedly disregarding party directives, making inappropriate and derogatory remarks against the party's top leadership and acting against the JD(U)'s candidate during the recently concluded Legislative Council elections.
The party alleged that Singh had campaigned in support of a candidate belonging to another political party during the elections.
The JD(U) said these actions amounted to serious indiscipline and warranted immediate cancellation of his primary membership.
The party has also requested the Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly to take action regarding Singh's MLA membership under the provisions of the Tenth Schedule.
In a separate but simultaneous decision, the JD(U) cancelled the primary membership of Neelam Devi, former MLA and wife of Anant Singh.
The party cited her alleged involvement in anti-party activities and expelled her from the JD(U) for six years.
The action against the couple marks a significant escalation in the party's disciplinary proceedings amid political tensions in Bihar.
The latest action comes days after a political controversy erupted over alleged remarks attributed to Anant Singh, in which he reportedly claimed that he had "got nine people murdered."
The remarks triggered strong criticism from the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). However, Singh later dismissed the controversy, saying that the statement had already been refuted.
JD(U) Working President Sanjay Kumar Jha said the party had taken note of the controversy while playing down its possible impact on the electoral scenario.
Anant Singh has also faced legal proceedings in connection with the murder case of Jan Suraaj supporter Dularchand Yadav.
The Patna High Court granted Singh bail in March in the case. He had been arrested before polling began in the Bihar Assembly election last year along with two associates, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram.
The latest expulsion now places Singh's political future under renewed scrutiny, particularly the JD(U)'s recommendation seeking cancellation of his Assembly membership under the anti-defection provisions of the Constitution.