Prashant Kishor, the name behind transformative promises in Bihar's politics, is once again in the spotlight having just unveiled the Jan Suraj party. In an exclusive dialogue with Aaj Tak, he expressed that Biharis yearn for change beyond Lalu Yadav, Nitish Kumar, and Congress, eager for something novel.
He emphasized, 'I haven't created a party; it's those citizens, who’ve felt marginalized over the past 30-35 years, who have brought it into existence. Voters swayed by fear of Lalu towards BJP and vice versa. My role's akin to that of a potter gathering clay and wheel.'
Prashant detailed, 'For two and a half years, I've been traversing villages. I've scoured for quality people. This movement is gaining a tangible form with over a crore of members on Jan Suraj’s foundation day—a clear indication that Bihar is hungry for transformation beyond Lalu, Nitish, Modi, and Congress.'
Addressing caste-related politics in Bihar, he stated, 'Which state in India is devoid of caste's influence in politics? Be it Karnataka with Vokkaliga and Lingayats or Gujarat’s Patels and Kshatriyas, or Andhra's Kammas and Reddies. So why this exclusive lens on Bihar? While caste is undeniably ingrained in society, it’s not the sole truth in politics. Let me elucidate with two examples.'
BJP Secures Votes in Bihar Riding on Modi's Name
'Post-2014, BJP and Modi's names draw massive votes in Bihar. Reflect on elections from 2014, 2015, 2019, and foresee 2024. Even without Modi's caste in Bihar, people rally behind him. If casting was purely caste-centric, who backed Modi? Whether nationalism or communal discourse, it’s beyond just caste.'
'Lalu Receives Greater Muslim Votes than Yadavs'
PK elaborated, 'The voting base for Lalu Yadav is dubbed MY equation. But largely, Muslims, more than Yadavs, vote for him. Why do 18% Muslims support RJD? Your conclusion might be their fear of BJP. It's prejudice that dooms Bihar due to caste politics. If Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra projects can thrive, why not Bihar?'
'I’m Not Ensnarled in Caste Politics'
Prashant defended, 'You claim I've tampered with caste dynamics—far from it. Jan Suraj opined that party representation will mirror the populace count but grounded on competency. We firmly believe capable individuals exist in every community with an inherent caste. If the intent is noble, every skilled person can be accommodated based on populace proportions. The primary criterion is merit. In an application pool of a thousand, societal representation remains vital. With a Dalit community comprising 18%, their representation stands at 18 in 100.'
'Why Can’t I Unite as Nitish Merges Opposing Castes?'
'Nitish ji represents a mere 2% cast in Bihar, whereas Lalu’s caste is at 15%. Yet Nitish unites 20 diverse castes. Why can't we? Though not EVC, they are portrayed as its leaders. EVC representation stems from fear of Lalu. Similarly, EVC’s larger faction favors him out of fear, not due to love for EVC.'
Why Muslims Dredge BJP? Prashant Explains
Prashant elucidated why Muslims dread BJP. 'Their apprehension roots from anticipated exclusion in governance, echoing how non-Yadav communities fear marginalization under RJD. This stems from Lalu’s
