Prashant Kishor, the strategist turned politician, is gearing up to launch the Jan Suraj Party. PK plans to officially announce Jan Suraj's active involvement in politics on October 2nd, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti. PK continually asserts that his party will be unique, unlike existing parties. He is already taking a different path from Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav on several issues.
This echoes what Arvind Kejriwal said during the launch of the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi. The Aam Aadmi Party tasted victory in its first election through an alliance. The question now is whether PK can replicate that charisma in Bihar.
PK's Distinct Path from Nitish and Tejashwi
Nitish Kumar-led JDU is showcasing its achievements during its tenure in Bihar, highlighting good governance as an accomplishment. JDU is promising rapid development with a double-engine government. Tejashwi Yadav is focused on employment, highlighting job creation as an achievement during the RJD's coalition government. However, political parties are shying away from the contentious issue of prohibition. PK, meanwhile, is taking a very different route on several major issues from Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav.
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Prohibition
PK is vocal about prohibition. He once claimed that prohibition would be lifted within an hour if he came to power, and now suggests it would be lifted within 15 minutes of forming a government. When the prohibition decision was implemented, the government was led by Nitish Kumar's grand alliance. Nitish has since swung between alliances with the BJP and the grand alliance but maintained the prohibition. Both BJP and RJD avoid commenting openly on prohibition to safeguard the women voter base, but PK is outspoken. He has said that he was told women wouldn't vote for him, but he remains candid about his stance.
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Employment Guarantee
Unemployment is a major issue in Bihar. Tejashwi Yadav focused on it during the 2020 assembly elections, promising 1 million jobs. RJD emerged as the largest party in the grand alliance, partly due to its employment promises. This time, Tejashwi is again highlighting employment, promising to fill vacant positions if elected. NDA is showcasing job creation during Nitish's tenure as an achievement. PK is also making employment a focal point in his campaign.
Read More: Who is the Alternative to Nitish in Bihar? Open Battle between PK and Tejashwi Yadav
Prashant Kishor has criticized lofty job promises, explaining that Bihar has only 2.3 million sanctioned government positions, constituting about 2% of the population. Thus, 98% of people won't get these jobs. He cited developed countries as examples, stating progress isn't through government jobs but through education and capital availability. In countries like Norway and Sweden, citizens don't sit for railway exams; they have access to quality education and capital for employment. Jan Suraj aims to apply this model in Bihar, backed by ten economists.
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Revival of Factories
Nitish Kumar once highlighted the lack of a sea in Bihar as a hindrance to industrial development. He had remarked that apart from potato and sand, everything else had gone to Jharkhand. PK responded by highlighting that states like Telangana and Haryana, devoid of a sea, outperform Bihar in growth. PK underscores sugar mills shutting down in Bihar and questions why, given that sugarcane fields remain. Reviving closed factories is a key focus for PK.
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Candidates from All Fields
Much like Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party, PK aims to include people from all fields in his party and contest elections. PK has announced tickets for 40 women and 40 Muslims for the assembly elections. PK is looking to field candidates from all walks of life, including former officers, judges, educators, and laborers, to convey that Jan Suraj represents all sections of the society.
Read More: New Party, Touring Every Village, and Blueprint for Developing all 8500 Panchayats... PK's Political Launch Plan
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Focus on the Educated Class
PK is concentrating on the educated class. Recently, PK held a meeting with intellectuals in Patna, debunking myths spread by politicians that caste and wealth are essential in politics. PK argues that a significant educated class with good character distances itself from politics due to these myths. He invites capable individuals eager to contribute to society to join Jan Suraj, promising that the party will fund campaigns for all levels of elections.
