Prashant Kishor, of Jan Suraaj Party, dropped hints about contesting the next Bihar Assembly polls from Raghopur, a seat long held by the Yadav clan. Currently, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav holds the seat.
As he came to Raghopur, Kishor stated, “I will talk to people in Raghopur and listen to their opinions. Tomorrow our central committee will finalize the candidate for this seat. Whatever the people of Raghopur demand, will be our guiding principle.”
Tejashwi May Have Double Challenge
Kishor warned that if he enters the fray, Tejashwi may have to contest from two seats, similar to Rahul Gandhi in Amethi during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. “His fate in Raghopur could mirror Gandhi’s, who lost Amethi despite it being a Congress bastion,” Kishor said.
Raghopur has been a Yadav bastion long enough. Lalu Prasad Yadav had won it twice, and Rabri Devi thrice. Tejashwi has won the seat twice, in 2015 and 2020. Even though the Yadav family commands considerable influence, Kishor pointed to the constituency’s need for basic facilities and local upgradation.
Jan Suraaj Party Announces Candidate Lis
The party recently announced its first list of 51 candidates for Bihar Assembly elections. They include Bhojpuri singer Ritesh Pandey, retired IPS officer RK Mishra, and Karpoori Thakur’s granddaughter Jagriti Thakur.
The party list is representative of diversity: 11 from backward classes, 17 from extremely backward classes, nine from minority groups, and the remaining from general categories. KC Sinha, former Vice Chancellor of Patna University and Nalanda Open University, doctors Amit Kumar Das, Shashi Shekhar Sinha, and Lal Babu Prasad are among other key nominees.
Kishor on Candidate Selection
Kishor underlined that the decision would come after party deliberations. “I cannot say for certain if I will be a candidate. Our committee will choose the best candidate from public opinion,” he added.
Responding to speculation about Bhojpuri movie hero Pawan Singh staying away from elections out of “fear,” Kishor explained, “Pawan Singh is a close friend. Our party does not meddle in his personal affairs.”
Bihar Elections Schedule
The Bihar Assembly polls will take place on November 6 and 11, with votes counted on November 14. Observers are watching Kishor’s potential entry in Raghopur, which could upset the RJD’s long-standing hold on the seat and reshape political dynamics ahead of the elections.
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