Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj party made its electoral debut in the Bihar Assembly elections, focusing on jobs, migration, education, and healthcare instead of traditional caste politics. The 48-year-old poll strategist-turned-politician founded the party on October 2, 2024, following a two-year foot march across Bihar. Despite generating considerable buzz and fielding candidates in 243 constituencies, the party faced significant challenges. Bihar's deeply-entrenched caste structure and the short timeframe for party-building proved formidable obstacles. While Jan Suraaj resonated with some unemployed youth and migrant voters, ground-level support remained limited. CPI (ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya noted that Kishor appears more interesting to those farther from Bihar. Though candidates mounted strong campaigns in about 15 seats, the party struggled to translate social media hype into votes. Kishor himself predicted his party would win either 150 seats or fewer than 10.
Challenges of Breaking Bihar's Caste Barriers and Building Support
Jan Suraaj faced two major hurdles in Bihar's political landscape. First, the party was established just months before the election after Kishor's two-year padyatra, giving insufficient time to build organizational strength. Second, Bihar's deeply-rooted caste structure proved difficult to overcome. Voters across different regions acknowledged Kishor's appealing message but questioned its practical viability. Many said he spoke in an idealistic manner and that breaking caste shackles would be extremely difficult. Critics suggested candidates should have been announced at least a year earlier for better voter engagement. Kishor's decision not to contest personally also raised questions. A Kaimur resident noted that contesting from his home constituency Kargahar in Rohtas or from Tejashwi Yadav's Raghopur seat could have demonstrated stronger leadership commitment and resonated better with voters.
Source: Link