Patna: Expelled from the Janata Dal (United) on Saturday, Mokama MLA Anant Singh was back in front of cameras on Sunday, announcing that he would form his own political party.
He also predicted that the JD(U) would struggle to win even ten seats in future elections, and said he had no regrets about the expulsion. His personal ties with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, he added, remained cordial.
The party's action was sweeping. On Saturday it expelled Singh and his wife, former MLA Neelam Devi, for six years over alleged anti-party activities, and revoked their primary memberships. It also recommended the cancellation of his membership of the Bihar Legislative Assembly under the Tenth Schedule, the anti-defection law.
The grounds cited were that he disregarded party directives, used derogatory language against its leadership and campaigned for another party's candidate during the recent Legislative Council elections. Neelam Devi was expelled on similar grounds.
Anant Singh is not a marginal figure in Bihar politics. He has held Mokama for years and carries a following built outside the party structure, which is precisely why the expulsion is a test of both sides. A legislator who can hold a seat without the symbol is a different problem from one who cannot.
For the JD(U), the Tenth Schedule route is the sharper weapon. Expulsion from the party does not by itself cost a member the seat, but a disqualification under the anti-defection law would, and the recommendation now sits with the Speaker.
For Singh, the calculation runs the other way. Announcing a party immediately, rather than waiting, keeps his supporters from drifting and forces the party to respond before it can settle on a replacement in Mokama.
What the new outfit will be called, and whether Neelam Devi will front it, is not known. Neither is the Speaker's timetable.
Bihar's political weather has been unsettled for months, and this is one more front opening while the Assembly's arithmetic stays in the balance.