After three candidates of the Jan Suraaj Party (JSP), led by Prashant Kishor, could not file their nominations, it set off a fresh wave of political turbulence as Kishor alleged that the candidates were forced by the BJP to withdraw their candidatures under pressure. The party had promised to contest all 243 seats, but in a recent press conference, Kishor said he will now contest solidly on 240 seats.
Kishor has repeatedly told the public that his party would field “strong, credible candidates” — individuals with academic credentials, commitment to public service, and genuine concern for Bihar’s development. His emphasis on integrity and purpose has been central to the party’s narrative. However, the withdrawal of three of its candidates so close to the polls risks undermining the very optics Kishor sought to create — that of fielding a reform-driven, strong political candidate distinct from Bihar’s conventional power play.
Allegations of coercion and intimidation
Speaking at a press conference in Patna, the strategist-turned-politician accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its partners in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of resorting to force and intimidation to suppress the emergence of his party’s candidates in key constituencies. He also named Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, claiming their involvement in pressuring JSP nominees.
According to political observers, the incident shows that the party has not yet been able to establish robust communication channels through which candidates could reach out to the leadership, and where the leadership could have preempted such developments. A political analyst said, “How does defection happen? First, there is communication from leaders of the rival party, after which they meet—say—the three Jan Suraaj candidates. And since they are Jan Suraaj candidates who have pledged allegiance to Bihar’s development through this party, they are expected to remain firmly loyal. They may have tried to alert the leadership, but the leadership perhaps did not take it seriously. That may have been the sequence of events if what Kishor claims is true.”
Prashant Kishor's disruptive strategy in Bihar politics
From the start of his campaign, Kishor has consistently taken aim at senior BJP leaders, mining their pasts on the campaign trail to undermine their credibility with voters. Political observers say his rhetoric has not only unsettled the NDA but also complicated the Mahagathbandhan’s messaging, forcing both camps to react to his disruptions. Kishor has rebutted accusations from both main camps that he is a “vote cutter,” asserting instead that he intends to cut their vote share so decisively that they are wiped out of the political space. If that happens, it could significantly alter the balance of power in the state.
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“The party took time to zero in on credible candidates. Our organisation mostly follows a top-down approach; every narrative, even at the local level, is shaped by the statements and instructions of Prashant Kishor. Therefore, a few candidates leaving the party will not impact us in any significant way. The point is that this newly built party already has enough standing to rattle the established players in the state, and our candidates are strong enough to at least make them lose," said a senior leader from Jan Suraaj Party.
