Prashant Kishor, the founder of Jan Suraaj, urged Bihar’s electorate to abandon voting based on “jaat” (caste) and “bhaat” (free ration), claiming that this behavior is a primary factor in the state’s persistent backwardness. Addressing a rally in the Ramgarh assembly segment, where a by-election is set for next month, Kishor made this appeal with the catchphrase: “Stop voting for jaat and bhaat.”
At the rally, Kishor, a well-known political strategist, criticized the way Bihar has been governed over the years by successive administrations in the state and by the Modi government at the center. “Lalu Prasad and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar kept the whole of Bihar trapped in ‘jaat’ for 35 years,” Kishor said. “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.”
Kishor’s emerging party, Jan Suraaj, is looking to establish itself in the Ramgarh constituency, a seat currently held by the RJD, which is vying to retain it, while the BJP aims to reclaim it. Kishor also urged voters to rethink their support for the BJP, noting its stated willingness to back Nitish Kumar for another term after next year’s assembly elections.
The Jan Suraaj founder alleged that Kumar has replaced the criminal dominance of the Lalu era with an unchecked bureaucracy. He also highlighted recent issues causing unrest, including a current land survey and rising electricity bills, as well as frequent disconnections due to the mandatory installation of smart pre-paid meters. “If you support the BJP, it will strengthen the hands of Nitish, and your woes will continue,” he warned.
Kishor’s Jan Suraaj party will contest all four assembly seats up for by-elections on November 13, including Imamganj, Belaganj, Tarari, and Ramgarh. These seats became vacant earlier this year after the respective MLAs resigned following their election to the Lok Sabha.
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In a recent announcement, the Election Commission of India assigned the poll symbol “school bag” to the four candidates nominated by Jan Suraaj, as per a party statement.
