After two and a half years of reaching out to the villages of Bihar, Prashant Kishor (PK), a leader who transitioned from being an election strategist, is launching his party today. PK has announced that even after the launch of the party, the Jan Suraj Padyatra will continue. With the state elections scheduled for next year, people are curious about the party's core image, key figures, and how it will find a place in the NDA-Mahagathbandhan dominated politics of Bihar. These are the many questions that are arising in people's minds.
Key Figures of PK's Party
The Jan Suraj party of PK includes not only leaders but also former officials, with members from all sectors of society. Among the notable figures associated with Jan Suraj are former Union Minister DP Yadav, former BJP MP Chhedi Paswan, former MPs Poornamasi Ram and Monazir Hassan, along with several influential leaders. The party boasts over 100 former IAS and IPS officers.
Agenda of PK's Party
PK's party is focusing on issues ranging from migration and unemployment to underdevelopment. PK has consistently said that they will not only highlight problems but also provide solutions. The agenda of his party can be understood in four key points.
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Addressing Migration, Poverty, and Employment Guarantees
PK's party is bringing migration and poverty into focus. He talks about creating employment opportunities to prevent migration. At an event in Patna, PK mentioned that there would be no need for anyone to leave Bihar for jobs paying 10 to 12 thousand; such opportunities will be made available locally. PK also proposes an increase in the social pension amount for the poor.
Source: aajtak
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Focus on Panchayats
A significant population of Bihar resides in villages. These villages have lagged in development, so PK has shifted his focus to their improvement. He is determined to reach all 8500 panchayats in the state through the padyatra and envisions plans for their development.
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Blueprint for Development
PK aims to bring a roadmap for Bihar's development by February. He mentioned that 10 economists are working on this. Taking a jibe at Nitish Kumar's statement about potatoes and sand, he mused that while Bihar grows sugarcane, its sugar mills remain closed—a hint that his party’s agenda includes reviving closed industries for development.
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Alcohol Ban and Education
PK has promised to end the alcohol ban within 15 minutes of coming to power, intending to redirect revenue from alcohol sales to education. PK has been vocal about this shift.
Challenges Ahead
The new party is not without its challenges in Bihar politics. Established regional parties like Lalu Yadav's RJD and Nitish Kumar's JD(U) dominate, with the presence of national parties like BJP and Congress. Other players include Upendra Kushwaha, Jitan Ram Manjhi, Chirag Paswan, Pashupati Paras, and Mukesh Sahani, along with the Left. Carving a space in Bihar politics won’t be easy for the new party. The challenges in front of PK's party can be summarized in four points.
Source: aajtak
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Caste Politics
Bihar's politics has often been tangled in caste dynamics. While Yadavs and Muslims are the core voters of Lalu’s party, the Luv-Kush (Kurmi-Kushwaha) support Nitish Kumar’s. Paswans back Chirag’s party, and the Musahar community supports Jitan Ram Manjhi’s. Upendra Kushwaha leads the Kushwaha community, and Mukesh Sahani leads the fishermen or Nishad community. With each caste having its own party, caste politics will be a significant challenge for PK. Understanding this, PK advocates for representation proportional to the population.
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Women's Vote Bank
PK's stance on ending the alcohol ban, a policy that strengthened JD(U)'s support among women, will be a challenging issue. The alcohol ban has garnered good support from women voters cutting across caste lines for JD(U) and Nitish Kumar. This backing has often helped them regain political footing. Winning over this crucial vote bank will be a challenge for PK.
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Proving to Be a Different Kind of Party
PK has repeatedly emphasized that his new party will be different. The party focuses on people from every field, including former officials and socially active individuals, along with ordinary folks. Yet, many leaders and workers from other parties like JD(U), RJD, and BJP have joined, which adds the challenge of proving itself distinct.
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Credibility
Parties led by Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav, like JD(U) and RJD, have more credibility, having been in power and worked. While the successes and failures of these parties are debatable, PK’s party is new and needs to establish its credibility and gain public trust.
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PK's party talks about a vision but this can only be realized when given a chance. Gaining public trust is critical to getting that chance. How much trust PK's party can garner will be evident in the Bihar election results.
