Jan Suraaj, a new political party in Bihar founded by Prashant Kishor, is contesting its first Assembly elections with 239 candidates across nearly all seats. Kishor, who is not contesting himself, promised to field strong candidates with solid academic backgrounds. Analysis of the candidate list reveals that 55 candidates (about one-fourth) are post-graduates, 94 are graduates, and 11 hold PhDs. The party has fielded 22 doctors in the race, including general surgeons, dental surgeons, and paediatricians, along with several engineers. Around 85 candidates listed agriculture as their occupation. The party has also nominated 25 women candidates, nearly double what the BJP and JD(U) fielded individually. The average age of candidates is 50 years. Despite academic credentials, ground reports suggest voters remain sceptical, wanting the party to prove its staying power. In a closely contested election, Jan Suraaj's impact could depend significantly on Kishor's candidate choices and their ability to connect with local issues.
Educational and Professional Background of Candidates
Jan Suraaj has emphasized academic qualifications while selecting candidates. Fifty-five candidates are post-graduates, 94 are graduates, and 11 hold PhDs. The party has fielded 22 doctors, including specialists like paediatricians, orthopedic surgeons, and AYUSH practitioners. Among notable candidates is Dr Arun Kumar, former director of Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, and Jagriti Thakur, a dentist and granddaughter of late Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur. Retired IPS officer Rakesh Kumar Mishra, a gold medalist in B.Tech from IIT-BHU, is contesting from Darbhanga. However, 34 candidates have Class 12 qualifications, 18 have Class 10, and ten declared themselves as literate. Around 85 candidates listed agriculture as their occupation, with some also mentioning business, law practice, and animal husbandry as income sources.
Representation Across Caste, Gender, and Criminal Records
Caste-wise, 98 candidates belong to the general category (41%), 54 are OBCs (22.5%), 26 are EBCs (10.8%), and 41 are Scheduled Castes. The party fielded 28 Muslim candidates, just two less than the Mahagathbandhan's 30. Jan Suraaj nominated 25 women, nearly double the BJP and JD(U)'s tallies of 13 each. According to the Association for Democratic Reforms, 44% of Jan Suraaj candidates in the first phase declared criminal cases, and 43% declared serious criminal cases. This compares to 76% and 60% respectively for RJD, and 65% and 56% for BJP. The party justified selecting candidates with charges by citing their social work and local demand, listing offences like wrongful restraint, rioting, and criminal intimidation.
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