An explosive statement by JDU MLA Anant Kumar Singh has stirred Bihar’s political waters. On October 16, 2026, Singh claimed he orchestrated nine murders “for” Nitish Kumar during the latter’s early political struggles—only to claim by evening that his words had been misrepresented. Here’s what unfolded.
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## The Controversial Claim
Singh, who represents Mokama, made the remark while expressing deep frustration over his party fielding Neeraj Kumar in the upcoming Legislative Council polls. **“Nitish Kumar and I go back a long way. To help him, I got nine people murdered. I stood by him in times when he was struggling to find a toehold,”** Singh told reporters.
This shocked many observers, coming from a senior Janata Dal (United) leader with a reputation for being outspoken. The statement immediately drew heavy criticism and demands for clarification.
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## Singh’s Explanation: Misinterpretation
Later the same day, Singh issued a clarification. He insisted he never claimed responsibility for ordering murders. Instead, he said **“nine of my associates were killed during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s government because I supported Nitish Kumar.”** He maintained that his earlier words were twisted out of context.
He also added that during that period, he was shot at, suffered personal losses, and his father died of a heart attack. Singh emphasized that these experiences were sacrifices made by his camp, not for any criminal boast.
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## The Backdrop: MLC Poll Tensions and Internal Rift
This controversy erupted against a backdrop of internal strife in the JD(U). Singh has openly opposed the decision to field Neeraj Kumar for the Patna Graduates’ MLC seat. He contends Neeraj has opposed him in the past and contributed little to the party. Still, Singh insisted his opposition is to Neeraj’s candidature, not to Nitish Kumar.
Singh said his loyalty to Nitish has been consistent, recalling that he backed him since early political days—before transitioning away from Lalu Prasad Yadav’s camp.
The context: in 2004, an STF raid at Singh’s residence allegedly led to the deaths of eight of his supporters. Singh ties this tragedy to his political alignment with Nitish during a volatile time.
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## JD(U) Reaction
The party leadership moved quickly to distance itself from Singh’s remarks. National spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, without naming Singh, defended Nitish Kumar’s fifty-year political record as having **“no stains of criminal collusion or violent disclosures.”** He said Singh’s claim was not deserving of serious engagement, either from the party or the public.
Another JDU leader, Shyam Rajak, called Singh’s statement a product of frustration.
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## RJD’s Response: Allegations and Accusations
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) seized on Singh’s original claim to attack Nitish Kumar. RJD spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav demanded an explanation, accusing Nitish’s government of carrying guilt by association in the alleged murders. Yadav declared that Singh’s admission could be a sort of “confession” implicating the ruling regime.
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## Key Takeaways
– **Timing matters:** The controversy broke as internal tension over candidate selection within the JD(U) was already high.
– **Political framing:** Singh alleges that his loss of nine associates occurred under Lalu Yadav’s government due to his support of Nitish—indicating past violence connected to political allegiance.
– **Contradiction in narrative:** Singh’s later clarification negated that he organized murders; instead, he framed it as having suffered personal loss.
– **Damage control mode:** Party leaders hurried to protect Nitish Kumar’s reputation and maintain a clean image around law and order.
– **Broader implications:** Opposition parties view the episode as potentially weakening Nitish’s long-standing credibility. RJD has already called for accountability.
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## What Happens Next?
The party and its leadership will likely assess damage control strategy while keeping an eye on upcoming elections. Singh’s opposition to Neeraj Kumar could deepen rifts within JD(U) or force some accountability. Meanwhile, Nitish’s reputation—built heavily on promises of justice and good governance—faces scrutiny. Whether this episode affects electoral outcomes remains to be seen.
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