Why Jan Suraaj’s Picked ‘School Bag’ as Party Symbol, Prashant Kishor Explains

Prashant Kishor, the chief of Jan Suraaj, addressed reporters in Gaya on Saturday regarding the party’s newly allotted poll symbol, the “school bag,” for the upcoming bypolls in Bihar. This symbol has been designated by the Election Commission for all four candidates representing Jan Suraaj in the Tarari, Ramgarh, Belaganj, and Imamganj assembly constituencies.

Kishor criticized the past 35 years under the leadership of RJD and JDU leaders Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar, asserting that the school bag has been taken away from Bihar’s children. He stated, “In the 35 years of Lalu-Nitish rule, the school bag has been removed from the backs of the children of Bihar and a sack of labour has been tied on them. Jan Suraj’s thinking is that the way to end the poverty of the people of Bihar is school bag, the way to employment is school bag, and if migration in Bihar has to be stopped then the way is school bag.” He added, “That is why the election symbol of Jan Suraj is the school bag because only through education can people develop, poverty can be eradicated…”

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Earlier this week, Kishor also urged the people of Bihar to stop voting for parties based on ‘jaat’ (caste) and ‘bhaat’ (free rations), arguing that this behavior contributes to the state’s ongoing backwardness. He emphasized the detrimental impact of this voting pattern, criticizing both state and central governments for their failure to address Bihar’s needs.

Kishor remarked, “Lalu Prasad and chief minister Nitish Kumar kept the whole of Bihar trapped in ‘jaat’ for 35 years. For the past 10 years, Modi has been short-changing you in exchange for five kgs of ‘bhaat.’ You must stop voting for ‘jaat’ and ‘bhaat’ if you want a better future for yourself and your children.”