Prashant Kishor vows to lift liquor ban in Bihar if elected
Jan Suraaj, which will officially launch on October 2, is expected to bring new policies and ideas to Bihar's political scene.
Political strategist turned leader Prashant Kishor has strongly criticized the liquor ban in Bihar, calling it a “sham” imposed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. He addressed the media and said that if his party comes to power in Bihar, they will ensure that the prohibition on liquor is removed within an hour.
Jan Suraaj, which will officially launch on October 2, is expected to bring new policies and ideas to Bihar’s political scene. Prashant Kishor argued that the ban has not been effective and has instead encouraged illegal home deliveries of alcohol. He also claimed that the state is losing out on ₹20,000 crore in potential excise revenue due to the ban.
Prashant Kishor further accused politicians and bureaucrats of benefiting from the illegal liquor trade. He stressed that his political approach is based on kabiliyat ki rajniti (politics of merit) and that he would openly oppose the prohibition law, unlike other parties, even at the cost of losing support from women voters.
In his comments, Prashant Kishor blamed Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav for the problems at hand in Bihar and stated that both leaders had failed the state for 30 years.He urged them to step aside, stating, “The people of Bihar have seen enough of both of them.”
Kishor also confirmed that his newly formed political party, Jan Suraaj, will contest all 243 seats in the Bihar Assembly elections scheduled for next year. “Jan Suraaj will contest all 243 seats, not one less,” he declared.
Kishor questions Tejashwi’s ability to lead Bihar
Addressing a gathering in Bhojpur, Kishor criticized leadership of Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister, Tejashwi Yadav ‘s educational background, pointing out that despite being the son of former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tejashwi failed to pass the 10th class. Kishor commented, “A 9th-class dropout is showing the way to Bihar’s development. He doesn’t know the difference between GDP and GDP growth, yet claims to know how to improve Bihar.”
Kishor highlighted that Tejashwi Yadav’s rise in politics is largely due to family ties, rather than merit, questioning his ability to lead the state’s development.
Kishor’s statewide padyatra
To build support for his party, Kishor has been on a statewide padyatra, which he started on Gandhi Jayanti in 2022. He has walked over 5,500 kilometres, reaching 18 of Bihar’s 38 districts, and used vehicles to cover the remaining areas. His efforts have strengthened his presence across the state. With by-elections approaching in Ramgarh, Tarari, Imamganj, and Belaganj, Kishor’s Jan Suraaj is considering contesting all four seats, further boosting its political position.
Kishor also mentioned his past success in helping leaders like Mamata Banerjee, MK Stalin, Arvind Kejriwal, and Nitish Kumar win elections. Confident in his ability, he said, “Now that I’m working for Jan Suraaj, I won’t let the party fail.”
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