Samrat Choudhary is a disaster for Bihar, but a bigger disaster for the BJP and the NDA,” says Prashant Kishor, Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) founder, after taking oath as a member of the Legislative Assembly. He made his electoral debut by winning the recent Bankipur bypoll, a result that jolted the BJP. In an interview with
Ramashankar, Kishor talks about his party’s future plans, challenges and, importantly, the meaning of his victory. Excerpts:
What will be the impact of the Bankipur bypoll result on state politics?
There will definitely be a major impact. In fact, the impact is already visible, as the government’s agenda has also changed after JSP’s victory. The government has now started talking about quality education, jobs and investment. Earlier, the chief minister used to talk only about crime, criminals, half-encounters and so on.
What message has your victory sent across Bihar?
People from all castes and religions voted for my party in the bypoll. The myth that people of Bihar vote only along caste and communal lines was demolished. It shows how the voting pattern is undergoing a change in Bihar. This is good for the people as well as the state.
You have been consistently attacking CM Samrat Choudhary. Why are you against him?
Samrat Choudhary does not deserve to hold the post of CM due to his shady background. If he continues in the post, it will be a disaster for the state and an even bigger disaster for BJP and NDA. Even BJP workers aren’t ready to accept him.
There is a common perception that the BJP had other choices for the post of CM, but Nitish Kumar insisted on Samrat as his successor...
It is not true. The BJP is misleading people by spreading rumours that Nitish backed Samrat as the CM. Samrat was the BJP’s pick. The BJP wanted to satisfy the JD(U) rank and file by creating a false impression.
Your plans for Bihar?
Our first priority is to keep pressure on the BJP central leadership to replace the present CM and give the post to a “deserving” person. I always question his credentials and capability. People are aware of his ‘chaal, charitra and chehra’. Bihar can prosper under the leadership of a better CM. Our party’s focus will remain on the state’s speedy growth and stopping the migration of youth by creating job opportunities. We want to ensure quality education in government schools and improve healthcare.
Will you be able to make Bankipur a role model for others to emulate?
I will try to fulfil all our promises, such as full ration, quality education and employment. Our party will shift children from government schools to private ones and cover the expenses. In addition to pre-poll promises, we have pledged to give 10,000 jobs to educated youth in the private sector.
Based on the Bankipur results, can we say that you have been able to communicate with people better this time?
I contacted people from all sections of society during the campaign. I repeatedly told the voters that this election would not change the government or have any impact on the Opposition, but it would clearly send a message to the top leadership of the ‘double-engine government’. I asked them to vote for the sake of the future of their children, which touched their hearts, and they voted for us.
Can you explain your ‘dar ka vote’ theory?
People voted fearlessly, not caring whether the BJP or the RJD would win the election, this time. In other elections, the RJD would try to get votes from people by invoking the fear of the BJP. The BJP threatened people that ‘jungle raj’ would return if votes were cast for Lalu’s party. Circumstances favoured us as voters wanted to elect the ‘right’ candidate.
What about Gen-Z protests?
The government should take serious note of Gen-Z protests. Though I don’t personally know the students representing the Cockroach Janta Party, Sonam Wangchuk proved how his 35-day fast could rattle the Modi government. The influence of social media cannot be undermined either; a generation that grew up with WhatsApp and Facebook made Modi PM, but now we’ve the Instagram generation, and I doubt whether the BJP would be able to handle it. The voice of discontentment cannot be suppressed.
