Poll strategist Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party has decided to field candidates in all 243 Assembly seats in the upcoming Bihar elections. With this decision, the election is likely to become a three-sided contest between the JD(U)-BJP alliance, the Mahagathbandhan, and Jan Suraaj.

This major decision was taken during the party’s first-ever national executive committee meeting held in Patna on Monday.

The party said that candidates will be announced in phases, across 4 to 5 rounds. In the first round, the party will declare names for 40 reserved constituencies. This will be Jan Suraaj’s first time contesting Assembly elections in Bihar.

The meeting also discussed how to strengthen the party’s organisational structure in the state to prepare for the polls.

Senior advocate Basant Chaudhary was named the chairperson of the manifesto committee. He will work with the national and state presidents to form the full committee and prepare the party’s election manifesto.

Party raises concerns about voter list revision

The national executive meeting also focused on the ongoing issue of voter list revision in Bihar. This matter has become controversial and is currently being examined by the Supreme Court, which will hear the case on July 10.

A party delegation will soon meet Election Commission officials to share its concerns about the voter review process.

The drive to revise the electoral rolls was launched on June 24, with the aim of removing ineligible names. However, the opposition has warned that the revision could wrongly remove 20% of Bihar’s population, especially migrant workers who live outside the state.

Influencer Manish Kashyap joins Jan Suraaj

In a boost for the party, social media influencer Manish Kashyap joined Jan Suraaj on Monday along with his supporters. He had resigned from the BJP a month ago.

Last year, in its first electoral test during bypolls, the Jan Suraaj Party did not win any of the four seats it contested. Three of its candidates lost their deposits, though it gained some votes in Imamganj.

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