Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) founder Prashant Kishor on Sunday announced candidates for five Bihar Legislative Council constituencies, where elections are likely to be announced soon.
Elections are to be held for a total of eight Bihar Council constituencies, whose terms expire in November. Four of these are graduates' seats, while the other four are teachers' constituencies.
This election is separate from the Bihar Assembly polls, and is conducted to elect members of the Legislative Council, the state legislature's upper house. Only six states in the country, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra, have an upper house in their legislative framework.
The upcoming polls in Bihar will cover four graduates' and four teachers' constituencies across around 30 districts. JSP had earlier said it would contest all eight seats, as part of its organisational expansion strategy.
In the MLC polls, candidates' local influence, standing among graduate and teacher voters, and the strength of party organisations are expected to be key factors.
The candidates fielded by Prashant Kishor's JSP
{{/usCountry}}In the MLC polls, candidates' local influence, standing among graduate and teacher voters, and the strength of party organisations are expected to be key factors.
The candidates fielded by Prashant Kishor's JSP
{{/usCountry}}Addressing a press conference, Prashant Kishor announced the names of five candidates, including Afaq Ahmed, who will seek re-election from the Saran teachers' constituency. Ahmed is an incumbent from the seat, which he won six years ago with the support of the former poll strategist, who was then yet to float his party.
Lawyer and academician-turned-politician Divya Jyoti, who joined the Jan Suraaj Party last week, was fielded from Patna teachers' constituency. This seat is currently held by JD(U) chief spokesperson Neeraj Kumar.
The party has also fielded S P Rai from the Darbhanga teachers' constituency, Ravindra Yadav from the Darbhanga graduates' seat, and Rajnish Ranjan from the Kosi graduates' constituency, he said.
Prashant Kishor on Muslim representation
Prashant Kishor called upon Muslims of Bihar to care for the community's representation in politics and refrain from becoming camp followers of any party.
The Bankipur MLA made the remark last Sunday at a minorities convention held in the Muslim-majority Sabzibagh locality of the state capital, which falls under his assembly constituency.
Kishor told the gathering: "I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your support during the recently held by-poll. Now we must strive to ensure a fair deal for the minorities, who must get due representation in democratic politics".
The city's Muslim population is said to have voted overwhelmingly for Kishor, instead of the RJD, which used to be their first party of choice, in the by-poll, which saw the debutant wresting the seat which the BJP had been winning on the trot since 1995.
Kishor said, "I say to all social segments in Bihar to care for the future of their own children instead of getting swayed by leaders claiming to champion their cause. That is my request to the minorities also. They must fight for their due share in politics, instead of becoming camp followers of any party".