Election strategist Prashant Kishor on Thursday announced he will begin a 3,000-km foot march from BiharтАЩs West Champaran on Gandhi Jayanti (October 2) even as he was not floating a political party, for now, days after his cryptic tweet about going directly to the people created a buzz in political circles on Monday. He said Bihar needs a new order and added it is not necessary to contest elections alone for this.
Kishor said he will meet around 17,000 people from different fields and take their views on taking Bihar forward over the next three to four months. тАЬIf they decide to have a political party or organisation, then we will take a call by August-September,тАЭ he said, adding that he will not be the proposed partyтАЩs all in all. тАЬIt is going to be a collective effort.тАЭ
Kishor referred to his march from West Champaran, where Mahatma Gandhi launched his resistance against the British in 1917, and said Bihar has a very rich history. He added the march will help him connect with people and understand the ground realities. тАЬI will take people who want the change and have the will to change.тАЭ
Kishor said any decision on floating the party will be taken only after meeting people who share the same thoughts about Jan Suraj (good governance).
In his tweet on Monday, Kishor, 45, who has been toying with the idea of entering politics in his home state of Bihar, said his quest to be a meaningful participant in democracy and help shape pro-people policy led to a 10-year roller-coaster ride. He added it was time to go to the real masters, the people, to better understand the issues and the path to good governance.
KishoreтАЩs announcements come when Bihar is in a state of flux. There have been murmurs of chief minister Nitish Kumar facing an existential crisis within the ruling coalition even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has maintained there is no question of a change of chief ministership. The BJP is the bigger party in the legislature, with 77 lawmakers while Janata Dal (United) or JD (U) has 43. There has been a talk of Kumar either moving to Delhi or stepping down.
On Thursday, Kishor said over the last 30 years, supporters of both Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad and Kumar claim development took place during their tenures in the state in their own way. тАЬLalu PrasadтАЩs supporters claim development with social justice while Nitish KumarтАЩs supporters claim development on economic and social parameters. There is some truth in their claims.тАЭ
Kishor said Bihar, however, remains the most backward, poorest state and is placed at the lowest rank. тАЬOver the next 10-15 years, the same road cannot take us forward. It requires new thought; new effort and no single person can do this. It requires joint effort,тАЭ he said. He added most of the 350-odd people he has met over the last three-four days believe that the state needs a new awakening.
Kishor has previously worked with parties including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC). He was expelled from KumarтАЩs JD(U) in January 2020 for criticising the partyтАЩs stand on the Citizenship Amendment Act. Kishor, who last week turned down an offer to join the Congress, did not rule out joining a party in the future. тАЬEven if I am in Congress, my work will be Bihar-centric.тАЭ
Kishor said there have been numerous instances in Bihar when people have risen above caste to vote for suitable candidates. тАЬEvery caste has good people who are always thinking of stateтАЩs interest and in its improvement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi got the maximum votes in Bihar. So, how can I believe that people do not vote outside caste,тАЭ said Kishor, a Brahmin, in response to a question on caste as a factor in Bihar politics.
Kishor maintained that he has no personal enmity with Kumar. тАЬIf I meet him that does not mean that I am in agreement with him. He has three-year tenure left. Let him work,тАЭ he said.
Kishor said he is a beginner and not thinking about how to counter RJDтАЩs Tejashwi Yadav, who is also the leader of the opposition in the state assembly, at the moment.
BJP spokesperson Nikhil Anand said Kishor is trying to enhance his image and political branding. тАЬ…Bihar is not a foolтАЩs paradise. People know everything. He is being promoted by some political parties,тАЭ said Anand.
RJD leader Mritunjay Tiwary said everybody has the right to form a party. тАЬLet first people take him seriously then we will see,тАЭ said Tiwary.
Political expert D M Diwakar said there is no immediate political space for Kishor in Bihar. тАЬPK [Kishor] is basically an election manager. With no immediate business in sight, he is looking for business through padyatra [march] for the next election. You never know, he might try to influence parties through the feedback accumulated during the padyatra.тАЭ He added Kishor knows that his upper-caste background cannot be of much help to him.
