Poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor, leader of the Jan Suraaj Party, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of intimidating his party’s candidates, claiming that three of them were pressured into withdrawing their nominations for the upcoming Bihar election.
Speaking to mediapersons, Kishor announced his intention to raise the issue with the Election Commission. He stated, “The BJP has built an image in the last few years that no matter who wins elections, the BJP forms the government. Look at the condition of the party that called Jan Suraaj a vote-cutter and said we have no identity. The polling process has begun, and NDA is terrified.”
Kishor further elaborated, saying, “And they are not afraid of the Mahagathbandhan, which they use to scare people. They warn the people that if they don’t vote for them, Lalu Yadav’s ‘Jungle Raj’ will return. This time, people have a new option, Jan Suraaj. Jan Suraaj is the way out of the 30-year slavery, because of which people are forced to vote for the BJP and Nitish Kumar because of Lalu ji’s fear, and for Lalu ji because of the BJP’s fear.”
He identified the three Jan Suraaj candidates who were allegedly forced to withdraw: Mutur Shah from Danapur, Satya Prakash Tiwari from Brahampur, and Shashi Shekhar Sinha from Gopalganj.
Regarding the Danapur constituency, Kishor noted that the Mahagathbandhan candidate has the reputation of a bahubali (political strongman).
He said, “So, the BJP scares the people, ‘vote for us, otherwise he will make your life hell’. This time, the people of Danapur decided not to vote for the BJP out of fear.” He claimed that Mutur Shah, who took the Jan Suraaj symbol, did not reach the poll body’s office to file his nomination. Kishor alleged that BJP leaders claimed supporters of RJD’s candidate Ritlal Yadav abducted Shah. Displaying a photograph, he said, “See here, Mutur Shah is with Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.”
He accused the BJP of pressuring candidates, stating, “This is the BJP’s character. You tell me, an ordinary trader who has entered politics, if the Home Minister calls him, what option does he have?”
In Brahampur, Kishor pointed out that the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) had fielded bahubali Hulas Pandey. He said, “Jan Suraaj’s candidate was Satya Prakash Tiwari. He campaigned for three days. Yesterday, he withdrew his nomination. And see the picture behind the scenes,” holding up a photograph of Tiwari with Union Minister Pradhan. He added, “Bihar needs to know if Jan Suraaj’s leaders are running away or if democracy is being murdered. Candidates are being threatened openly.”
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For Gopalganj, Kishor explained that Jan Suraaj’s candidate, Shashi Shekhar Sinha, was actively campaigning until the evening before his withdrawal. He said, “Till 8 pm the day before yesterday, he was campaigning for the polls. After 11 pm, a BJP MLC and other prominent leaders met him and pressured him to withdraw his nomination.” Kishor then displayed a photograph of Sinha with BJP leaders.
He asserted, “Jan Suraaj’s 240 warriors are still in the arena and won’t rest till they uproot NDA. And everything will be clear on November 14 (counting day). Prashant Kishor and his Jan Suraaj associates are not going to be scared; no matter how many candidates you buy, threaten, or confine, the election will be fought and fought strongly.” Kishor argued that the NDA does not fear the Mahagathbandhan because their candidates include “bahubalis and sand mafia.” He said, “They will tell the people that they should vote for them to prevent the return of ‘jungle raj’. But they fear good people, doctors, traders, educationists and social workers.”
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Drawing on a popular dialogue from Salman Khan’s Dabangg, “thappad se dar nahi lagta, pyaar se lagta hai,” Kishor remarked, “These people don’t fear goons as candidates; they fear good people. This is Jan Suraaj’s fear. We have fielded good people, but they are not political people. Their families and relatives are being pressured to make them withdraw their nomination.”
He questioned the safety of voters, stating, “If candidates are not safe, how will voters be safe?” and urged the Election Commission to intervene, adding, “Jan Suraaj’s warriors will not step back. Bihar will change.”
In his conversation with national media, Kishor asked, “Have you ever seen the country’s Home Minister and education minister pressuring rival party’s candidates to withdraw nomination?” While he confirmed that Jan Suraaj would lodge a complaint with the Election Commission, he expressed skepticism about its effectiveness, stating, “What will the Election Commission do? It will do what the government wants.”
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