Bihar MLC Polls: JD(U) Faces Dissent as RLM Backs Its Own Candidate

Bihar MLC Polls: JD(U) Faces Dissent as RLM Backs Its Own Candidate

Three of the four Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) MLAs have decided to support the party’s own candidate, Ram Pukar Sinha, in the Saran Teachers constituency instead of the JD(U)’s Anand Pushkar, adding to signs of dissent within the ruling NDA alliance in Bihar.

RLM MLAs Back Ram Pukar Sinha

Three of the four RLM MLAs, a constituent of the ruling NDA in Bihar, have decided to support Ram Pukar Sinha in the upcoming Bihar Legislative Council election.

The decision puts the RLM legislators at odds with the JD(U), which has fielded Anand Pushkar from the Saran Teachers constituency.

RLM MLA Anand Madhav said the decision was taken out of “respect” for party workers. He also asserted that the MLAs would continue to remain with the NDA.

The fourth RLM MLA, Snehlata Kushwaha, is the wife of RLM chief and Rajya Sabha member Upendra Kushwaha.

Anant Singh Backs Opposition Candidate

The developments come amid a separate disagreement within the JD(U).

JD(U) MLA Anant Singh, who is considered close to party leader and Union Minister Lalan Singh, has announced his support for Opposition Jan Suraaj Party candidate Anuj Kumar Singh.

Mr. Anant Singh has also indicated that he would not campaign for JD(U) candidate Neeraj Kumar, who is contesting from the Patna Graduate constituency.

Mr. Lalan Singh said that he had spoken to Anant Singh, who raised concerns about issues that he believed had not been addressed by the party earlier.

According to Mr. Lalan Singh, Anant Singh referred to the 2025 State Assembly election from Mokama and alleged that misinformation had been spread against him at the time. He also questioned why the party disciplinary committee had not taken action against the person he identified as the party's official candidate for the Council election, Neeraj Kumar.

Mr. Lalan Singh said he had requested Anant Singh not to make public statements against the party or its candidate, and that Mr. Singh had agreed to the request.

Nitish Kumar and Lalan Singh Discuss Rift

Earlier, former Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar held a meeting with Lalan Singh. It is believed that Mr. Nitish Kumar urged Mr. Lalan Singh to help resolve the differences between the two sides.

JD(U) national working president Sanjay Jha had also said that he had asked Lalan Singh to work towards ending the rift.

Bihar Legislative Council Elections on October 23

Elections are scheduled for eight seats in the Bihar Legislative Council, which are falling vacant on November 16. Polling is scheduled to take place on October 23.

The BJP and JD(U) have fielded candidates for four seats each. Other NDA allies, including the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), have announced their support for NDA candidates.

October 6 is the last date for filing nominations.

Several candidates, including BJP candidate Nawal Kishore Yadav from the Patna Teachers constituency, are scheduled to file their nomination papers.

The developments involving the RLM and the differences within the JD(U) have added another layer of political tension ahead of the Bihar Legislative Council elections.