Whether the programme had been planned in advance or was part of a larger political strategy remains unclear. However, the gathering in the Munger parliamentary constituency, particularly the crowd in Lalan Singh's absence, has fuelled speculation about an emerging power struggle within the JDU. Political circles are also questioning whether opponents of Lalan Singh played a role in mobilising support for the event, raising comparisons with the familiar political equation of an enemy's enemy becoming a friend.
During the meeting, Sanjay Jha made several statements highlighting the impact of the Farakka Barrage and the 1996 water treaty between India and Bangladesh on Bihar. He said the Farakka water treaty signed in 1996 was not in Bihar's interests. He added that if a new water agreement is negotiated in the future, Bihar's water requirements until 2050 must receive priority.
Jha also alleged that the Farakka water treaty and the barrage were contributing to the accumulation of large quantities of silt in the Ganga River. According to him, this has raised the riverbed and resulted in serious flooding in Bihar every year.
He further pointed out that during the dry season, water is drawn from the Ganga and Bihar's internal rivers and sent to Bangladesh. He said this adversely affects irrigation for farmers, drinking water supplies for the public, industries and the livelihoods of millions of people in the state.
While Jha raised concerns over Bihar's water interests, his decision to hold the programme without inviting Lalan Singh became another major talking point. As a Union Minister with considerable political experience and diplomatic skills, Lalan Singh is also in a position to raise the state's concerns in Parliament and before Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His absence from a meeting on such an important issue prompted questions throughout the programme, with journalists repeatedly seeking to understand why he had not been invited.
The event in Lakhisarai, which falls within Lalan Singh's Munger parliamentary constituency, is being viewed in political circles as a possible show of strength by Sanjay Jha in the Union Minister's stronghold.
There is also speculation about whether political opponents of Lalan Singh helped make the gathering successful. Although no one has openly confirmed such involvement, discussions in Lakhisarai have centred on the possible role of current Agriculture Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha and MLC Neeraj Kumar in supporting Jha's programme.
Amid the ongoing political differences within the JDU, Sanjay Jha also made remarks that appeared to refer to the party's internal situation. He said internal political developments within the party were causing losses to Bihar. However, he sought to play down the differences by adding that minor issues and disagreements were common within a political organisation.
His remarks came in response to journalists' questions about the removal of Lalan Singh's photograph from JDU posters displayed in Patna. Jha's comments have added another dimension to the discussion surrounding the growing differences between the two senior leaders.
Political commentator Om Prakash Ashk believes the current situation does not bode well for the JDU. He pointed out that party president Nitish Kumar has remained silent despite the developments, while National Working President Sanjay Jha has been handling the party's organisational responsibilities.
According to Ashk, the struggle for influence between Lalan Singh and Sanjay Jha is intensifying behind the scenes. He cited Lalan Singh's absence from the legislators' orientation programme and his non-attendance at Sanjay Jha's Nitish Samvad programme in Lakhisarai as significant developments.
Ashk also noted that Lalan Singh maintained his distance from the dispute between Anant Singh and Neeraj Kumar despite being requested to intervene. He described these developments as clear indications that all is not well within the JDU. While the eventual outcome remains uncertain, he said the developments cannot be considered favourable for the party.
Political analyst Rambandhu Vats also described Sanjay Jha's programme in Lakhisarai and Lalan Singh's absence as developments that raise several political questions.
Vats recalled that Lalan Singh had previously made it clear during internal party meetings that whenever a JDU leader organises a programme in a district, the concerned district president and the local MP must be invited.
Against this backdrop, the organisation of a programme by Sanjay Jha in Lakhisarai, which comes under the Munger parliamentary constituency, without Lalan Singh's presence cannot be dismissed as an ordinary development, Vats said.
He viewed the incident as another link in the emerging political confrontation between Sanjay Jha and Lalan Singh. According to him, the developments indicate that Lalan Singh's role and influence in the party's political activities and decision-making process are increasingly becoming limited.
The meeting on the Farakka Barrage has therefore become more than a discussion on Bihar's water concerns. Lalan Singh's absence, the political messaging from Sanjay Jha and the questions raised by commentators have brought the JDU's internal power dynamics into focus. The future course of this emerging confrontation could have significant implications for the party's political and organisational functioning in Bihar.
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