Bihar MLA's '9 Murders' Remark Rocks JDU, Sparks Row

The Cliff News | 17 October 2026

Bihar's political landscape has been jolted by a sensational claim made by Janata Dal United (JDU) MLA Anant Kumar Singh, who stated he was responsible for the deaths of nine individuals to support former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The remarks have triggered a major controversy, prompting the JDU to publicly disassociate itself from the MLA's explosive confession.

The unprecedented statement emerged from Singh's apparent displeasure with the party's decision to field his political rival, Neeraj Kumar, in the upcoming legislative council elections. While lashing out at his adversary, Singh detailed his alleged past actions, highlighting a deep-seated connection with Nitish Kumar's political journey.

Allegations of Orchestrated Murders

Anant Singh, a prominent figure known for his strong connections in his constituency, asserted his loyalty to Nitish Kumar by stating: "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." This direct admission has sent shockwaves through the state's political circles.

Singh further elaborated on his grievances, questioning the party's nomination of Neeraj Kumar. He alleged that Neeraj Kumar had previously opposed him, and expressed bewilderment as to why the party leadership would select someone with whom he had such a history of political friction.

RJD Accuses Nitish Kumar

The opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), led by Lalu Prasad Yadav, was quick to seize upon Singh's remarks. RJD leader Shakti Singh Yadav strongly criticized Nitish Kumar, interpreting Singh's statement as a confession of political crimes committed under his leadership. "Anant Singh has effectively confessed to nine murders, murders that occurred while Nitish Kumar was Chief Minister, and, by implication, for the sake of Nitish Kumar," Shakti Singh Yadav stated.

"Even if Anant Singh later retracted or altered his statement, likely due to pressure from his party at both the central and state levels, does it not remain a fact that Nitish Kumar built his power in Bihar by aligning himself with notorious criminal gangs from across the state - whether from Motihari, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, or the Mokama region? Who were these notorious gang members? They were all with him," Shakti Singh Yadav added.

The RJD's accusation suggests a deeper narrative of political alliances with alleged criminal elements, underscoring the gravity of Singh's initial confession and its implications for Nitish Kumar's political legacy.

JDU Distances Itself from MLA's Claims

In response to the escalating controversy, the JDU swiftly moved to distance itself from Anant Singh's controversial statements. Party spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad declared that Singh's remarks "did not deserve to be taken seriously." He emphasized Nitish Kumar's commitment to maintaining an "untainted record" and his avoidance of any association with criminal activities or violence.

"Nitish Kumar has stood out for an untainted record, with no blemishes of hobnobbing with criminals and involvement in violence or any type of negativity. The type of statement that we have come across deserves no cognisance from the party and is unlikely to be taken seriously by the public," Prasad asserted. The JDU's official stance aims to mitigate the damage caused by the MLA's explosive claims.

Anant Singh's 'U-turn' and Shifting Blame

In a subsequent development, Anant Singh appeared to backtrack on his initial statement, this time shifting the blame for the deaths to the RJD regime. He claimed that nine of his associates were killed, and he himself was shot, during the Lalu Yadav government. According to Singh, these killings occurred because they had aligned themselves with Nitish Kumar.

"I have responded to Neeraj Kumar, detailing the sacrifices I have made. During the Lalu Yadav government, nine of my associates were killed, and I myself was shot. It was because we aligned ourselves with Nitish Kumar that Lalu Yadav had them killed," Singh stated. He also mentioned personal losses, including the passing of his father due to a heart attack, suggesting the immense personal toll of his political journey.

Election Season Controversy

The timing of this political row is particularly significant, occurring amidst an active election season in Bihar. The Election Commission has scheduled biennial elections for eight seats of the Bihar Legislative Council for October 23, with vote counting set for October 27. The controversy surrounding Anant Singh's statements is expected to influence public opinion and potentially impact the electoral dynamics of these upcoming polls.