Patna: Political strategist Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj on Monday released its second list of candidates for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, naming 65 candidates across 30 districts. The list reflects a mix of professions, communities, and political backgrounds — featuring one candidate with a criminal record, 17 defectors, seven lawyers, four engineers, and nine doctors.
Among the notable names, Hemant Choubey, son of senior BJP leader and four-time MP from Buxar Lalmuni Choubey, has been fielded from Chainpur. Former Union Minister and JD(U) leader Dasai Chaudhary has been nominated from Patepur, while four-time Congress MLA Satyendra Hazra will contest from Sonvarsha. CPI(ML)’s former area commander Satyendra Sahni has been named the candidate from Taraiya.
With this announcement, Jan Suraaj has finalized 116 candidates so far, including 51 from its first list released earlier.
17 Party Hoppers Find Place in Second List
While the first list largely featured new faces, the second list includes several leaders who have switched sides from major parties such as the BJP, RJD, and CPI(ML). A total of 17 such defectors have been given tickets this time.
Candidate Accused of Attempted Murder Gets Ticket
The list has sparked some controversy as it includes a candidate facing criminal charges. Naz Ahmed, 47, who was jailed for an attempted murder case, has been nominated from Kesaria in Motihari. He was released on bail earlier this year after spending over six months in prison. Residents in the area claim Ahmed has faced several criminal allegations in the past.
Focus on Backward Castes and Muslims
Prashant Kishor’s selection pattern continues to emphasize representation from backward classes and minorities. Out of the 65 candidates, 24 belong to backward communities — 14 from Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) and 10 from Other Backward Classes (OBC) — constituting about 37% of the list.
Additionally, 14 Muslim candidates (21%) have been fielded, alongside 11 upper-caste and one Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidate. Combined with the first list, 52 of the 116 Jan Suraaj candidates belong to EBC and OBC categories, making up 45% of the total.
EBCs and OBCs together account for nearly 63% of Bihar’s population and have traditionally formed Nitish Kumar’s primary vote base. Meanwhile, 21 Muslim candidates (18% of total) have been nominated so far, aligning closely with their 19% population share in the state — a vote bank largely associated with the Grand Alliance.
Average Age 51; Mix of Professionals and Academics
The average age of the Jan Suraaj candidates stands at 51 years. The oldest is 74-year-old Abhaykant Jha from Bhagalpur, while the youngest is 27-year-old Rohit Paswan from Rosera.
In terms of education, candidates range from literate individuals to PhD holders. Of the 65 nominees, eight are law graduates, 10 are doctors, and four are engineers. Sixteen have completed general graduation, while 11 have studied up to matriculation or intermediate.
Breaking Convention: Dalit and Muslim Candidates on General Seats
Prashant Kishor has also attempted to break traditional caste-based politics by fielding Dalit and Muslim candidates on general seats. For instance, Kamlesh Paswan, a Dalit candidate, has been nominated from Harnaut — Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s home constituency. In Sitamarhi, a stronghold of Hindutva politics, Jan Suraaj has fielded a Muslim candidate, with similar moves in Madhubani, Darbhanga, and Rohtas.
Prominent Defectors in the Second List
- Hemant Choubey (Chainpur): Son of former BJP MP Lalmuni Choubey; joined Jan Suraaj after being denied a BJP ticket.
- Tathagata Harshvardhan (Buxar): Supreme Court lawyer and former Congress District President; son of ex-Union Minister K.K. Tiwari.
- Ratneshwar Thakur (Harlakhi): Former CPI(ML) leader who served as Mukhiya for several years.
- Mantosh Sahni: Previously held various roles in JD(U).
- Satyendra Hazra (Sonvarsha): Four-time Congress MLA known for his clean image.
- Satyendra Kumar Sahni (Taraiya): Former CPI(ML) area commander who later joined JD(U).
- Valmiki Singh (Bakhtiyarpur): Two-time JD(U) MLC and close aide of Nitish Kumar; belongs to the Kurmi community.
- Rajeshwar Manjhi (Masaurhi): Has been part of both JD(U) and RJD; contested the 2015 election on a HAM ticket.
- Ikramul Haq (Thakurganj): Former RJD block president and local businessman.
Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj appears to be strategically positioning itself by mixing grassroots leaders, professionals, and defectors while carefully balancing caste and community representation — signaling a calculated bid to challenge Bihar’s traditional political equations in the upcoming assembly elections.
