Patna: Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party, despite failing to secure a single seat, has shaken the arithmetic of the Bihar Assembly elections. The party, led by the strategist often described as one of the sharpest minds in Indian politics, has acted as an equal-opportunity spoiler—causing the defeat of 15 NDA candidates and 15 Grand Alliance candidates across the state.
The impact, however, is not evenly spread geographically. Only two seats in Patna district witnessed such a triangular shift. Elsewhere, Jan Suraaj’s presence proved decisive in razor-thin contests.
Close Fights Flipped by Jan Suraaj Votes
Bakhtiyarpur
LJP-R candidate Arun Kumar secured 88,520 votes, defeating RJD’s Anirudh Kumar by a margin of just 981 votes. Jan Suraaj’s Valmiki Singh, who received 6,581 votes, emerged as the crucial vote-cutter. Without Jan Suraaj in the fray, RJD could likely have taken the seat.
Fatuha
RJD’s Ramanand Yadav won by 7,992 votes over LJP-R’s Roopa Kumari. Jan Suraaj candidate Raju Kumar polled 8,598 votes, a number large enough to swing the result the other way.
Chanpatia
BJP’s Umakant Singh lost to Congress candidate Abhishek Ranjan by just 602 votes. Jan Suraaj’s Tripurari Tiwari garnered a massive 37,172 votes, altering the electoral landscape entirely.
Where JD(U) Lost Because of Jan Suraaj
| Constituency | Winner | Loser | Margin | Jan Suraaj Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matihani | RJD | JD(U) | 5,290 | 6,774 |
| Karakat | Male | JD(U) | 2,836 | 7,503 |
| Jehanabad | RJD | JD(U) | 793 | 5,760 |
| Vibhutipur | CPI(M) | JD(U) | 10,281 | 13,450 |
| Jokihat | AIMIM | JD(U) | 28,803 | 35,534 |
| Tikari | RJD | HAM (S) | 2,058 | 2,552 |
Where RJD Lost Because of Jan Suraaj
| Constituency | Winner | Loser | Margin | Jan Suraaj Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakhtiyarpur | LJP-R | RJD | 981 | 6,581 |
| Sonpur | BJP | RJD | 4,767 | 11,977 |
| Taraiya | BJP | RJD | 1,329 | 5,080 |
| Sandesh | JD(U) | RJD | 27 | 6,040 |
| Singheshwar | JD(U) | RJD | 2,982 | 3,510 |
| Navnagar | JD(U) | RJD | 112 | 4,085 |
| Harsiddhi | BJP | RJD | 7,095 | 9,568 |
| Hasanpur | JD(U) | RJD | 7,914 | 9,553 |
| Jhajha | JD(U) | RJD | 4,262 | 6,148 |
| Baria | JD(U) | RJD | 4,119 | 24,595 |
| Bajpatti | RLSP | RJD | 3,395 | 6,174 |
Party-Wise Damage Count
A breakdown of losses caused by Jan Suraaj candidates shows:
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RJD: 11 candidates defeated
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BJP: 6 candidates defeated
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JD(U): 5 candidates defeated
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LJP-R: 5 candidates defeated
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CPI(ML) (Male): 3 candidates defeated
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Congress: 1 candidate each defeated
Analysts say Kishor’s party fielded candidates across the entire social spectrum, which explains the equal damage inflicted on both major alliances.
Additional Close Contests Affected by Jan Suraaj
Where Male, BJP, and Congress Lost
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Agyanv: Male lost; margin 95; Jan Suraaj 3,812
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Ziradai: Male lost; margin 2,626; Jan Suraaj 10,126
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Dumraon: JDU lost; margin 2,105; Jan Suraaj 5,273
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Rajpur: Congress lost; margin 9,136; Jan Suraaj 12,491
Where LJP-R Lost
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Bodh Gaya: RJD margin 81; Jan Suraaj 40,224
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Makhdoompur: RJD margin 1,830; Jan Suraaj 4,803
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Fatuha: RJD margin 7,992; Jan Suraaj 8,598
Where BJP Lost
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Chanpatia: Congress margin 602; Jan Suraaj 37,172
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Saharsa: IIP margin 2,038; Jan Suraaj 12,786
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Ramgarh: BSP margin 30; Jan Suraaj 4,426
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Dhaka: RJD margin 178; Jan Suraaj 8,374
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Forbesganj: Congress margin 221; Jan suraaj 977
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Goh: RJD margin 4,041; Jan Suraaj 7,996
