Prashant Kishor, a renowned election strategist-turned-politician, officially launched his new political party, the Jan Suraaj Party, on October 2, 2024, in Patna. At the event, Kishor named former Indian Foreign Service officer Manoj Bharti as the working president of the party. Bharti, originally from Madhubani, Bihar, has an impressive academic and diplomatic background, having studied at IIT Kanpur and IIT Delhi, and served as India’s ambassador to Ukraine, Belarus, Timor-Leste, and Indonesia.
During the launch, Kishor highlighted that the party had been functioning as a campaign for the past two to three years and recently received approval from the Election Commission of India. He emphasized the need for a major overhaul of Bihar’s education system, estimating that Rs 5 lakh crore would be required over the next decade to achieve world-class standards. He also pledged to end Bihar’s controversial liquor ban, arguing that the state loses Rs 20,000 crore annually due to the prohibition, which could instead be used to build the education infrastructure.
Kishor reiterated his vision of transforming Bihar, with a focus on education and employment. He called for voters to make decisions based on these critical issues, rather than on fear of political parties, as has often been the case in Bihar‘s history. He also emphasized that the Jan Suraaj Party would contest all 243 assembly seats, with a notable focus on inclusivity by reserving 40 seats for women candidates.
As Kishor pushes for an alternative political option, he faces both skepticism and support. Critics like Bihar Minister Ashok Chaudhary have questioned Kishor’s alignment with Gandhian ideals, while supporters hope his track record in election strategy will translate into effective governance.
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The Jan Suraaj Party is expected to be a significant contender in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, with Kishor and his team positioning themselves as advocates for a new political direction in the state.