Prashant Kishor Launches Jan Suraaj Party, Vows to End Liquor Ban in Bihar

GG News Bureau
Patna, 2nd Oct. Former election strategist Prashant Kishor formally entered electoral politics today with the launch of his Jan Suraaj group as a political party. The newly established Jan Suraaj Party plans to contest all seats in Bihar during the upcoming assembly elections and will be led by Manoj Bharti, a retired Indian Foreign Service officer.

In his vision for the party, Kishor has pledged that if elected, they will end the state’s liquor prohibition and channel the proceeds into enhancing the education sector. He has emphasized a paradigm shift in voting behavior, urging voters to move away from caste-based politics and electoral incentives, instead focusing on a forward-looking vision for Bihar’s future.

For over two years, Kishor has been traveling across Bihar, advocating for what he believes should be the electoral agenda. Earlier this year, he expressed readiness for a formal launch as a political entity, promising to offer the people of Bihar a fresh alternative to traditional parties.

“In Bihar, in the last 25 to 30 years, people have been voting for the RJD or BJP. That compulsion should end. The alternate should not belong to any dynastic party, but to individuals genuinely invested in progress,” he stated.

Kishor’s initiative, Jan Suraaj, originated after a brief tenure with the ruling Janata Dal United under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and an unsuccessful attempt by the Congress to recruit him to rejuvenate the party. Despite extensive discussions in 2022, Kishor declined a position on the Congress’s “Empowered Action Group,” criticizing the party for its lack of a “collective will to fix deep-rooted structural problems.”

He inaugurated Jan Suraaj with a yatra and described its transition into a political party as merely a halfway point in his broader journey. Kishor aims to visit every village in Bihar to educate residents on improving their living standards and encourage them to reject pressure from misguided leaders. He plans to present a comprehensive blueprint addressing Bihar’s challenges, particularly in education, agriculture, and employment.