Election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor officially launched his new political party, the Jan Suraaj Party, at a public event in Patna on October 2. The launch marks a significant move in Bihar’s political landscape ahead of the upcoming state elections.
Kishor, widely known for his role as a political consultant for various Indian leaders and parties, announced that the Jan Suraaj Party has been in operation for over two years. He revealed that the Election Commission of India had recently given its official nod to the party, allowing it to formally participate in elections.
“The Jan Suraaj campaign has been ongoing for the last 2-3 years. People have been asking us when the party will be officially launched. We must all thank God as the Election Commission has now officially recognized Jan Suraaj as a political party,” said Kishor during the launch.
Kishor, who has long been a critic of the state’s education system, laid out his ambitious vision to overhaul Bihar’s education sector. He argued that an investment of Rs 5 lakh crore over the next decade is essential for building a world-class education system in Bihar.
“If the liquor ban is lifted, the funds saved will not be directed towards the security of leaders, or roads, water, and electricity infrastructure. That money will be exclusively used to build a new education system in Bihar. Every year, Bihar loses Rs 20,000 crore due to the liquor ban,” Kishor explained. He further committed to ending the liquor ban in the state if his party comes to power.
With official recognition from the Election Commission, the Jan Suraaj Party is now expected to contest in all constituencies during the Bihar assembly elections slated for next year. The party aims to provide an alternative to Bihar’s dominant political forces and encourage voters to cast their ballots based on critical issues such as education and employment, rather than fear or loyalty to established political figures.
Speaking at a separate event, Bihar minister Ashok Chaudhary took a swipe at Kishor’s political ambitions. “Prashant Kishor has been known for managing political campaigns, but unfortunately, he has not had a second chance with the parties he has worked with. Now, his expansionist tendencies have led him to start his own party,” said Chaudhary. “He names it ‘Jan Suraaj,’ but claims to believe in Mahatma Gandhi’s policies while acting contrary to them. It raises questions about his true beliefs.”
Kishor has, however, remained focused on his plans for the future of Bihar, promising to release the party’s agenda by early next year, in January or February. He emphasized that the core objective of his political movement is to end what he described as “political helplessness” in Bihar, which he said has led people to vote out of fear rather than hope for a better future.
“At the beginning of the Jan Suraaj campaign, we highlighted the need to end the political compulsion of the last 25-30 years, where people voted for one party out of fear of the other. For Bihar to progress, we need a better alternative,” he said. “That alternative should come from the people of Bihar, who will build it together.”
Kishor also clarified that he has no desire to lead the party, and that his vision for Bihar extends beyond winning elections. “My dream is not just to form a party and win elections. My dream is to build a Bihar where people from other states like Jharkhand and Haryana come here for work. This is what we are working towards,” he told reporters.
In another key announcement, Kishor confirmed that the party would field candidates in all 243 constituencies during the 2025 Bihar assembly elections, with a particular focus on promoting gender diversity. He revealed that 40 of these candidates would be women.
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