Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Wednesday urged the people of Bihar to end the cycle of voting based on “jaat” (caste) and “bhaat” (free ration), arguing that such behavior has contributed to the state’s continued underdevelopment.
Kishor, the political strategist-turned-activist, emphasised his message with a slogan at a rally in Ramgarh, where a by-election is set for next month. As the founder of the Indian Political Action Committee (IPAC), Kishor has previously advised a range of political leaders but now speaks out for his own fledgling political movement.
“Lalu and Nitish kept the whole of Bihar trapped in ‘jaat’ for 35 years. For the past 10 years, Modi has been short-changing you in exchange for five kgs of bhaat. You must stop voting for ‘jaat’ and ‘bhaat’ if you want a better future for yourself and your children,” Kishor said at the rally.
Kishor, whose Jan Suraaj Party is contesting all four seats in the November 13 by-polls, accused both the Bihar government and the Narendra Modi administration of neglecting the state’s needs. He also criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for supporting another term for Nitish Kumar, saying, “If you support BJP, it will strengthen the hands of Nitish and your woes will continue,” PTI reported.
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Highlighting ongoing issues in the state, Kishor condemned what he called the “terror of unrestrained bureaucracy” under Kumar’s leadership, pointing to the disruption caused by a recent land survey, high electricity bills, and forced disconnections with the introduction of mandatory smart prepaid meters.
The by-elections, scheduled for November 13, include four assembly seats—Ramgarh, Imamganj, Belaganj, and Tarari—that were vacated earlier this year when the incumbents were elected to the Lok Sabha. Kishor’s rally aimed to rally support for Jan Suraaj as it seeks to challenge the hold of established parties in the state.