Patna: Political strategist-turned-leader Prashant Kishor’s party, Jan Suraaj, officially entered the fray for the ensuing Bihar assembly elections on Monday by releasing its first list of 51 candidates. The announcement was coupled with a clear signal of intent to directly challenge the state’s established political players: Kishor himself will launch the party’s main election campaign on October 11 from Raghopur, the high-profile assembly seat currently held by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav.
The decision to start the campaign in the heart of the RJD’s bastion is being viewed by analysts as a calculated move to position Jan Suraaj as a principal alternative to the traditional alliances.
Focus on Social Engineering and Fresh Faces
Addressing the press in Patna, Jan Suraaj National President Uday Singh emphasized the party’s commitment to a socially balanced ticket distribution, claiming that candidates represent “all sections of society”.
The inaugural list of 51 candidates breaks down as follows:
- Extremely Backward Classes (EBC): 17 candidates.
- Backward Classes: 11 candidates.
- Reserved Seats: 7 candidates.
- Minorities: 8 candidates.
- General Category: Rest of the seats.
The list features several non-traditional political entrants, reflecting Jan Suraaj’s attempt to disrupt Bihar’s established political ecosystem. Notable candidates include:
- K C Sinha: A noted mathematician fielded from Kumhrar in Patna.
- Ritesh Pandey: Popular Bhojpuri singer, contesting from Kargahar.
- Jai Prakash Singh: Former IPS officer, who will contest from Chhapra.
- Yaduvansh Giri: A noted advocate running from Manjhi in Saran district.
- Priti Kinnar: A candidate from the Kinnar (transgender) community, standing from Bhore in Gopalganj.
Other announced candidates include Dr Lalu Babu (Dhaka), Usha Kiran (Sursand), and R K Mishra (Darbhanga).
Kishor’s Candidacy Remains a Mystery
Despite the aggressive posturing, the question of whether Prashant Kishor will enter the electoral fray himself remains unanswered. Party President Uday Singh was non-committal when asked if Kishor would contest any seat.
The party announced that the next list of candidates will be released within the next two to three days, ensuring its candidates have significant lead time to campaign ahead of the polls. Jan Suraaj is being watched closely, with pre-poll surveys suggesting the party could emerge as a critical ‘vote-cutter’ or even a ‘kingmaker’ in what is shaping up to be a triangular contest in Bihar.
