Prashant Kishore’s Jan Suraaj is set to make its electoral debut, marking a significant milestone as the party announced candidates for the upcoming by-polls in Bihar. This will be the first election Jan Suraaj will contest, positioning it as a fresh player in the state’s political arena. On November 13, by-polls were held in two assembly constituencies in Bihar, Imamganj and Belaganj, along with by-polls in 45 other assembly constituencies. The announcement was made in Gaya during a press conference attended by Prashant Kishore and several party leaders.
Jan Suraaj fielded Dr Jitendra Paswan, a paediatrician known for his work in social activism, for the Imamganj seat, which is a reserved constituency for Scheduled Castes. Paswan’s nomination reflects the party’s aim to bring forward candidates with a strong social commitment. Meanwhile, Khilafat Hussain, an academician, has been selected to contest from the Belaganj constituency.
Both Imamganj and Belaganj are located in Gaya district, and the by-polls were necessitated after the sitting MLAs, Jitan Ram Manjhi from Imamganj and Surendra Prasad Yadav from Belaganj, were elected to the Lok Sabha.
The decision to field Hussain from Belaganj did not come without internal friction. Four candidates, including Mohd Amjad Hasan, Danish Mukhiya, and Sarfaraz Khan, were initially considered for the seat. However, during a meeting held in Gaya, tensions rose as some party members protested against Hussain’s selection.
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The situation escalated, with Danish Mukhiya and Sarfaraz Khan withdrawing their candidacies in favour of Amjad Hasan, but the party leadership ultimately settled on Hussain. This internal conflict hints at deeper issues within Jan Suraaj, potentially affecting its performance in the by-elections.
The upcoming by-elections come shortly after Jan Suraaj’s official recognition by the Election Commission of India. At a launch event in Patna, Prashant Kishore formally introduced his party to the public, stating that Jan Suraaj had been operational for the past two years but had only recently gained official party status.
''Jan Suraaj campaign is going on for 2-3 years. People are asking when we will be forming the party. We all must thank God, today the Election Commission has officially accepted Jan Suraaj as Jan Suraaj Party,'' Prasant Kishore said during the event on October 2.
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With the Election Commission’s approval, Jan Suraaj is poised to expand its influence beyond these by-polls. The party is expected to contest all constituencies in the Bihar assembly elections next year, signalling its intent to challenge established political players in the state.
Jan Suraaj has positioned itself as a party focused on bringing new ideas and innovative governance models to Bihar, which Prasant Kishore believes can address the state’s long-standing political and social issues.
Prasant Kishore, a well-known election strategist, has transitioned from behind-the-scenes campaign management to front-line politics. His previous successes in crafting winning strategies for political heavyweights across the country have made his foray into electoral politics a closely watched development. However, Jan Suraaj’s performance in the upcoming by-polls will be an early indicator of how well Kishore’s political vision resonates with the people of Bihar.