Patna, Oct 4 (PTI) Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh ‘Lalan’, whom the JD(U) recently “authorised” to resolve a factional feud ahead of Bihar Legislative Council polls, has asserted that he believed in achieving reconciliation “without taking sides”.
Lalan’s averment came on Saturday in his Lok Sabha constituency of Munger, days after JD(U) working president Sanjay Kumar Jha said the Union minister has been “authorised” to resolve the tiff between party MLC Neeraj Kumar Jha and MLA Anant Kumar Singh, who has ended up supporting the Jan Suraaj Party candidate in Patna Graduates’ constituency.
In a video that has gone viral on social media, Lalan, a former JD(U) national president, can be heard saying, “When two warring factions come to me, I take the side of neither because both are equally dear to me. But I do mediate if they are willing to thrash out differences.”
Notably, Jha had said Lalan was being chosen as the trouble-shooter since Mokama, the assembly segment represented by Anant Singh, and many other ones nearby falling under Patna Graduates’ constituency are a part of the Munger Lok Sabha seat.
Anant Singh, a mafioso-turned-politician, caused a flutter earlier this week when he accompanied Anuj Singh of Jan Suraaj Party for the filing of nomination papers.
The Mokama MLA made it clear that he wanted to ensure the “defeat” of Neeraj Kumar, who had once contested against him in assembly polls and whom he suspected of involvement in a “conspiracy” that led to his arrest following seizure of arms and explosives from his residence.
Neeraj Kumar, who seeks to retain his seat for the fourth consecutive term, is yet to file his nomination papers, though former chief minister Nitish Kumar, the party chief, gave him the JD(U) ticket recently.
The JD(U) supremo’s son and heir apparent Nishant Kumar, who is also the state’s health minister, has begun to canvass for Neeraj Kumar, recalling the latter’s “contributions since the Samata Party days”.
The eight legislative council seats which will go for polls, on October 23, are Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut and Kosi Graduates’ and Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut and Saran Teachers’ constituencies.
The notification for the polls was issued on September 29, while the last date for filing nominations is October 6. Scrutiny of nominations will take place on October 7 and candidates can withdraw their nominations till October 9. Polling will be held from 8 am to 4 pm on October 23, with counting scheduled for October 27.
For graduates’ constituencies, individuals who hold a graduation degree from any recognised university in India for at least three years, and who reside within the specific graduate constituency, can cast his or her vote.
Voters must explicitly register themselves on the electoral rolls maintained for this purpose.
For teachers’ constituencies, educators working in educational institutions in the state — not lower than secondary schools, and including high schools, colleges, and universities – and who possess at least three years of teaching experience, can cast his or her vote. Eligible teachers must also register separately on the specific teachers’ electoral list. PTI NAC PKD ACD
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