Patna: A crucial meeting of the Janata Dal (United) legislature party was held at the Karpoori Hall of the party office on Friday, with nearly 100 MLAs and Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) attending the three-hour programme.
The meeting, held from 10am to 1pm, was presided over by JD(U) National Working President Sanjay Jha. Party National President Nitish Kumar briefly attended the programme and inaugurated the event before leaving.
The absence of several prominent leaders, including Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh, Mokama MLA Anant Singh, Minister Ashok Choudhary and Deputy Chief Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav, drew attention.
Leaders Deny Factionalism
The absence of senior leaders led to speculation about differences within the party. However, JD(U) MLA Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha dismissed suggestions of factionalism.
He said the meeting was an orientation programme and that there were no conflicting agendas within the party.
“After the three-hour meeting, MLAs and ministers stated that it was merely an orientation programme. There is no factionalism within the party; there are no conflicting agendas — whatever Nitish Kumar ji says is the final word.”
Energy Minister Bulo Mandal also said that the programme was limited to orientation and denied reports of discontent or factionalism within the party.
Sanjay Jha Explains Lalan Singh’s Absence
Sanjay Jha said the programme was specifically a meeting of the legislature party and that MPs had not been invited.
“This was a meeting of the legislature party; no Members of Parliament (MPs) were invited. As for Lalan Singh ji, I am in constant communication with him; I spoke to him yesterday evening as well. About 90–95 percent of the MLAs and MLCs attended the meeting, while some could not make it due to personal reasons.”
Several MLAs, including Nachiketa Mandal, Pankaj Kumar, Manjeet Singh and Shalini Mishra, raised questions about the absence of Union ministers Lalan Singh and Ramnath Thakur.
Jha said there was no reason for any grievance, reiterating that the programme was meant for members of the legislature party.
Anant Singh Questions Meeting
Mokama MLA Anant Singh said he was unaware of the meeting. His absence also drew attention in the context of his recent remarks concerning MLC Neeraj Kumar.
Singh said he would defeat Neeraj Kumar in the MLC election and claimed that Neeraj Kumar would even lose his security deposit.
Regarding Anant Singh’s absence and his remarks against Neeraj Kumar, Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha said he had no information on the matter. On Lalan Singh’s absence, he suggested that the Union minister could have been occupied with urgent work.
Nishant Kumar Addresses Gathering
Health Minister Nishant Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and State President Umesh Kushwaha were among those present at the meeting.
Nishant Kumar was the only leader to address the gathering, while Umesh Kushwaha delivered the concluding remarks.
The JD(U) had described the programme as an orientation exercise for its legislators. The party had said the programme was intended to familiarise lawmakers with legislative responsibilities and parliamentary processes.
