In the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor has fielded Dr Santosh Kumar Singh, a 48-year-old physician, to contest against BJP Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary in the Tarapur constituency of Munger district. Singh, who has been practicing medicine for 12 years and operates a 10-bed nursing home in Tarapur, joined Jan Suraaj in July 2024. With voting scheduled for November 6 in the first phase, Singh continues treating patients even during the intense campaign period. The party has deployed a unique dual structure combining political and professional teams to manage the campaign. Jan Suraaj has distributed Parivar Labh Cards to voters, outlining promises including monthly family assistance of Rs 20,000, pensions, loans to women, and free education. Singh avoids direct attacks on his rivals, instead emphasizing education and healthcare while promoting Kishor's vision for Bihar. His campaign focuses on moving beyond caste and religious considerations. Interestingly, among Singh's former patients are Samrat Choudhary's parents, including late former MLA Parvati Devi and six-time MLA Shakuni Choudhary, though contact ceased after Singh joined Jan Suraaj. The party's campaign machinery reflects an experimental approach to electoral politics in Bihar, blending grassroots outreach with professional campaign management.
Campaign Structure and Professional Team Approach
Jan Suraaj operates through two distinct verticals: political and professional teams, aiming to bring professionalism to campaigning. Shubham Kumar Shukla, the party's Tarapur Assembly in-charge from the professional team, has been stationed in the constituency since March. The structure includes local political representatives at panchayat level who coordinate with Assembly in-charges, who then report to district, zonal, and state in-charges, with Prashant Kishor at the apex. Shukla has reached out to 41 panchayats, three nagar panchayats, and one nagar parishad. The central committee provided 20,000 party flags, 20,000 pamphlets, and 10,000 caps for the campaign. However, this structure has faced internal friction, with political team members complaining of interference from professional counterparts. The tension partly stems from professional team members receiving salaries while political volunteers work without payment. Despite these challenges, the coordinated effort aims to maximize outreach across Tarapur's 451 booths and nearly 2,000 villages.
Doctor-Turned-Candidate's Background and Entry
Dr Santosh Kumar Singh, a resident of Munger's Paharpur village, completed his MBBS in 2011 and pursued two MD degrees before practicing medicine for 12 years, including five years in Tarapur. At his Fazeliganj nursing home, he treats patients from over 200 nearby villages for seasonal fevers, anaemia, dengue, and other ailments, charging Rs 400 consultation fees but waiving them for poor patients. Singh initially joined the BJP's district medical team in 2023 but became disenchanted when senior leaders ignored grassroots workers. After meeting Prashant Kishor in 2024, he was hinted at as a potential candidate for Tarapur. His wife Khushbu, initially reluctant about his political entry, now actively campaigns, speaking about Kishor's vision for Bihar and her husband's potential contribution as a doctor. Singh emphasizes moving beyond caste and religion, asking voters to give Kishor's new idea for Bihar a chance while avoiding direct references to rivals.
Ground Campaign Despite Rain and Challenges
On October 31, despite continuous rain, Singh maintained his campaign schedule while also seeing patients at his clinic. His day included visits to Muslim-dominated Gorho village, where he became the first candidate to canvas among nearly 2,000 voters at booth number one. He then moved to Amaiya village with OBC Yadav, Koeri, and Kurmi populations, going house-to-house without directly seeking votes but asking about local problems. At Chorgawa village, he met social worker Meena Devi and encountered undecided voters, urging them to follow their conscience. Singh acknowledged challenges facing a new party in a deeply entrenched caste system but remained committed to spreading Kishor's vision. He noted that indirect responses from villagers help gauge genuine support. Despite the day's rain reducing campaign productivity, Singh expressed satisfaction at reaching areas his rivals had not visited, viewing his effort as planting seeds for a new Bihar rather than merely opposing Samrat Choudhary.
Source: Link