Prashant Kishor, a former political strategist turned activist, has officially unveiled his political party, Jan Suraaj Party, during an event held at the Veterinary College Ground in Patna, Bihar. The launch saw the presence of notable personalities, including former Union minister Devendra Prasad Yadav, diplomat-turned-politician Pavan Varma, and ex-MP Monazir Hassan.
For the past few years, the Jan Suraaj campaign has been in motion, with many speculating when the party would officially form. Expressing gratitude, Kishor announced, Today, that the Election Commission has formally recognized Jan Suraaj as the Jan Suraaj Party.
In his speech, Kishor stressed the importance of developing a world-class education system in Bihar, estimating that it would require an investment of Rs 5 lakh crore over the next decade. He also took the opportunity to criticize the state’s liquor ban, which he claimed results in a significant annual revenue loss of Rs 20,000 crore. Kishor argued that the funds from lifting the ban could be redirected to improve education, infrastructure, and essential services.
“If Bihar is to achieve a world-class education system, we need to allocate Rs 5 lakh crore in the next 10 years. The money saved from lifting the liquor ban should be dedicated solely to transforming the education sector. Currently, Bihar loses Rs 20,000 crore each year due to this ban,” Kishor stated.
The Jan Suraaj Party launch comes after Kishor’s extensive 3,000-km ‘padayatra’ across Bihar, which aimed to rally support for a new political alternative to address the state’s longstanding issues.
In addition, Kishor introduced Manoj Bharti as the working president of the Jan Suraaj Party. Bharti, a native of Madhubani, has an impressive academic and professional background. After studying at Netarhat in Jharkhand, he pursued his education at IIT Kanpur and later obtained his M.Tech from IIT Delhi. Bharti has also had a distinguished career in the foreign service, having served as India’s ambassador to Ukraine, Belarus, Timor-Leste, and Indonesia.
Leading up to the party’s launch, Kishor called for Biharis to raise their voices with the slogan ‘Jai Bihar,’ urging them to be heard across the country, including in places where Bihari children have faced mistreatment and violence. He underscored the need for Biharis to assert their identity and demand respect nationwide.
You must shout Jai Bihar so loudly that no one dares to call you or your children Bihari as a derogatory term. Let your voices be heard in Delhi, Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Bombay, where Bihari students have faced abuse, Kishor passionately declared.
