Prashant Kishor to contest Bankipur bypoll, calls it ‘referendum on BJP govt’s popularity'
Kishor says his party is not merely fighting for Assembly seats, but for initiating a new political movement in Bihar
Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor on Sunday (July 5) threw his hat in the ring for the by-election to the Bankipur Assembly seat in Bihar, terming it a "referendum" on the popularity of the BJP-led government in the state.
Kishor announced his decision at a press conference in Patna. The seat fell vacant following the resignation of BJP president Nitin Nabin, who is now a Rajya Sabha MP.
‘I shall outweigh the rest 242 MLAs’
“The people of Bankipur are the richest and the most educated in Bihar. Let them vote for the best. If they feel they can repose their trust in me, I urge them to vote for me... Even as the lone MLA of my party, I shall outweigh the remaining 242 ones in the assembly," Kishor said.
Also read: Bankipur bypoll: Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj gears up for challenge in BJP stronghold
The 48-year-old reiterated that BJP leader Samrat Choudhary became chief minister "without the people's mandate" as the NDA had won the Assembly polls last year, declaring JD(U) president Nitish Kumar, who stepped down a couple of months ago, as its face.
"The upcoming bypoll is going to be a referendum on the working of the two-month-old government of Samrat Choudhary. If the BJP wins, I will have no hesitation in conceding that they continue to enjoy public support. If we win, it shall be for them to read the writing on the wall," the former poll strategist added.
'It's not anyone's stronghold'
Kishor, who had been dropping hints over the past few weeks that he was willing to contest the bypoll, said that a formal announcement was taken at a meeting of Jan Suraaj Party's core committee, held soon after the schedule for the by-election was announced last week.
He called his candidature as the beginning of a new kind of politics in Bihar.
Also read: Prashant Kishor moves to ashram, says he'll live there till next Bihar polls
“It is not anyone's stronghold; it is the stronghold of the people of Bihar... Things will certainly change... People should vote for the best candidate, the one who represents the start of this new politics..." ANI quoted him as saying.
“We are not merely fighting for Assembly seats, but for initiating a new political movement. As we contest the election, the voters of Bihar face the responsibility of ushering in a fresh beginning for the state... We are contesting alone (without having a coalition with any other party). However, I welcome support from anyone who feels they should help," he said.
Voting on July 30, results by Aug 3
Filing of nomination papers will begin on Monday and continue till July 13, while voting will take place on July 30, followed by the counting of votes on August 3.
The BJP, which seems confident of retaining the seat that it has been holding since the 1990s, is yet to declare its candidate.
The opposition RJD, Congress and Left combine is yet to reveal its cards.
Also read: Prashant Kishor takes blame for Bihar election debacle, refuses to quit politics
Former minister Tej Pratap Yadav, who has floated Janshakti Janata Dal upon expulsion from the RJD by his father Lalu Prasad, has fielded social activist Veena Manvi from the party.
(With inputs from agencies)