The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has enacted a stern disciplinary measure by suspending former Union Minister R.K. Singh for six years, effective immediately after the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025. The party stated that the suspension was due to ‘severe anti-party activities,’ signaling a clear intent to curb internal dissent.
As a former Union Home Secretary and Power Minister under the Modi government, R.K. Singh had been a vocal critic of the NDA’s leadership and the law and order situation in Bihar. His public remarks often targeted alleged corruption and factionalism within the ruling coalition, urging leaders like Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary to address corruption allegations. Singh also made a controversial appeal to Bihar voters to bypass candidates with criminal records, specifically mentioning allies within the NDA. His critique extended to the Election Commission, whom he accused of failing to manage election-related violence adequately, citing the violent events in Mokama.
The party’s disciplinary actions are not limited to Singh. Bihar BJP MLC Ashok Kumar Agarwal and Katihar Mayor Usha Agarwal have also been suspended for engaging in ‘anti-party activities.’ The Agarwals are facing charges related to Ashok Agarwal allegedly allowing his son, Saurav Agarwal, to contest from Katihar as a VIP candidate, contradicting party directives. They have been asked to provide a formal explanation within seven days.
Singh’s strong stance on law and order has been amplified by a recent high-profile incident. The murder of Jan Suraaj supporter Dularchand Yadav in Mokama during the election campaign has become a significant issue, with two police officers subsequently suspended. Critics have pointed to this and similar events as evidence of a breakdown in governance and security, a situation Singh has been vocally critical of.