Patna: YouTuber and self-styled political aspirant Manish Kashyap is expected to join Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraj Party after formally severing ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Sources within Jan Suraj confirmed ongoing discussions about his induction, with a likely announcement in Patna on June 23.
Kashyap, whose real name is Tripurari Tiwari, recently met YV Giri, a senior Patna High Court advocate and founding member of Jan Suraj, fuelling speculation of his alignment with the party. His move signals a growing ambition to secure a seat in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, particularly from Chanpatia in West Champaran district, where he contested unsuccessfully as an independent in 2020.
The Chanpatia seat, a BJP stronghold since 2000, has seen frequent changes in candidates — from Krishna Kumar Mishra to Umakant Singh, the current MLA. Sources say Kashyap was seeking a BJP ticket for the constituency but failed to receive an assurance, prompting his departure.
Kashyap, an engineer-turned-YouTuber, was inducted into the BJP by Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in what was seen as a strategic move to contain dissent in West Champaran. BJP’s Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal, a four-time MP from the constituency, faced backlash from sections of voters and Kashyap’s popularity among youth posed a perceived challenge. Party insiders say Kashyap was co-opted to minimise potential disruption.
Now, with Jan Suraj positioning itself as a third alternative to the NDA and Grand Alliance, Kashyap’s potential entry adds a mix of digital charisma and grassroots visibility to Prashant Kishor’s campaign.
