‘JD(U) is finished’: Bihar strongman Anant Singh to float own party after expulsion

‘No distance between me and Nitish’: Anant Singh after JD(U) expels him, wife

NEW DELHI: Expelled Janata Dal (United) strongman Anant Singh on Sunday claimed the Nitish Kumar's party is “finished” after his expulsion, predicting that it would fail to win even 10 seats in the next election.The Mokama MLA and Nitish Kumar loyalist also said he had “no regrets” over the action and maintained that he shared a cordial relationship with Nitish Kumar.Anant Singh's remarks came a day after the JD(U), which has been in power in Bihar for nearly two decades under Nitish Kumar’s leadership, expelled him and his wife, Neelam Devi, for six years over alleged “anti-party” activities.Speaking to reporters, Singh said he would form his own political party and questioned the future of the JD(U) after Nitish Kumar’s exit from Bihar throne and move away from an active role in state politics.“The party belonged to Nitish Kumar. Now that Nitish Kumar is no longer there (in the active role), what is left of the party? Who among those in the leadership-- the ones who expelled me—has actually contributed anything?... Now, they will not even get 10 seats... Why will I go anywhere? I will simply build my own party,” he said.

“The JD(U) is finished. Once they hold elections, everything will become clear,” Mokama MLA added.

Despite his criticism of the party, Singh denied any rift with Nitish Kumar, saying, “There is no distance between me and Nitish-ji; we maintain a cordial relationship. I will go and visit him sometime -- there’s no issue. Let them keep their party; it serves no real purpose anyway.”“I will simply build my own party... I have no regrets. Whatever action has been taken, it’s fine; I have no issues with it,” he said.The JD(U) had accused Anant Singh of repeatedly disobeying the party leadership and using inappropriate and insulting language against its senior leaders.In a further move, the party has approached Bihar Legislative Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar seeking Singh’s disqualification as an MLA under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, commonly known as the anti-defection law.