Jan Suraaj releases first list of 51 candidates for Bihar Assembly polls

The Jan Suraaj Party, founded by political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor, released its first list of 51 candidates for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections on Thursday in Patna. The selection of candidates reflects the party’s attempt to strike a caste balance.

Contesting the Bihar Assembly elections for the first time, the party has placed a major bet on candidates from backward castes. However, Party’s National President Uday Singh said that the party has made an attempt to give representation to every community based on its population.

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Singh said, “This is the first set of 51 names, comprising seven candidates for reserved seats and 44 for general seats. Apart from the seven reserved seats, tickets have been given to 17 candidates from extremely backward classes (EBC), 11 from backward classes (BC), and 7 from minority communities.”

The list of candidates reflects Prashant Kishor’s vision of providing corruption-free governance. Among the party’s prominent candidates are several former bureaucrats, selected for their clean image. The list also includes many professionals, such as lawyers, doctors, and academicians. Additionally, a large number of former government officials are being fielded by the party.

Senior Lawyer Y V Giri will contest from the Manjhi Assembly constituency in the Saran district. Former DGP R K Mishra from Darbhanga and Kishore Kumar from Saharsa, while renowned academic KC Sinha has been named the party’s candidate from the Kumhrar seat in Patna.

Former Janata Dal (United) national president and ex-Union Minister RCP Singh’s daughter Lata Singh has been nominated from the Asthawan seat in Nalanda.

In pursuit of his political career, RCP Singh had switched sides from the JD(U) to the BJP. After leaving the BJP, he had floated his own political party called ‘Aap Sabki Aawaz’, which was later merged with the Jan Suraaj Party. His daughter Lata Singh has emerged as the successor of his political legacy.

Jan Suraaj Party has also nominated Jagrati Thakur, granddaughter of Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur, from the Morwa seat in Samastipur district. Jagrati is the daughter of the late Chief Minister’s younger son, Virendra Nath Thakur. She joined the Jan Suraaj Party last year.

Bhojpuri film actor Ritesh Pandey, who has left the entertainment industry to try his luck in politics, has been fielded from the Kargahar seat in Rohtas district.