Patna, October 24:The Janata Dal (United) has expelled Mokama MLA Anant Kumar Singh and former MLA Neelam Devi from the party for six years over alleged anti-party activities. The party has also cancelled their primary memberships and recommended the cancellation of Singh’s Assembly membership under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.

According to separate office orders issued by JD(U) Bihar State President Umesh Singh Kushwaha, Singh was expelled for allegedly defying party directives, using inappropriate and derogatory language against the party’s senior leadership, and campaigning for a candidate from another party during the recently concluded Legislative Council elections.

The order stated that Singh’s primary membership had been cancelled with immediate effect. It also recommended that the Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly cancel his membership as an MLA in accordance with the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.

In a parallel decision, the party cancelled the primary membership of Neelam Devi, Singh’s wife and a former MLA, citing her alleged involvement in anti-party activities. She was also expelled from the party for six years.

The disciplinary action comes amid a political controversy triggered last week by reported remarks attributed to Singh in which he allegedly claimed to have had “nine people murdered.” The remarks prompted strong criticism from the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), while Singh and his party maintained that the statement had already been refuted.

Breaking his silence on the controversy, Singh briefly dismissed the allegations, saying, “The statement has already been refuted.” JD(U) Working President Sanjay Kumar Jha said the party had taken note of the matter while downplaying its potential electoral impact.

In a related legal development, the Patna High Court granted bail to Singh in March in connection with the murder case of Jan Suraaj supporter Dularchand Yadav. Singh had been arrested before polling began in the Bihar Assembly elections last year, along with two associates, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram.