2 Jan Suraaj candidates file nominations for Bihar MLC polls

Two Jan Suraaj Party candidates for the October 23 Bihar Legislative Council polls filed their nominations on Wednesday in the presence of founder Prashant Kishor, who urged voters to choose a new alternative that would “force” the Government to work for people.

Shyam Nandan Yadav and Vimohan Kumar filed their nominations for Tirhut teachers’ and graduates’ constituencies, respectively. On September 26, the Jan Suraaj Party announced Shyam Nandan Yadav as its candidate for the Tirhut Teachers’ constituency in place of Bhushan Jha, who will contest as an Independent.

Polls for eight seats in the Upper House of the bicameral Bihar legislature are scheduled on October 23.

The terms of four graduates’ and as many teachers’ seats are set to expire on November 16.

Talking to reporters in Muzaffarpur after the two candidates filed their nominations, Kishor said, “We hope that the educated electorate, be it the graduates or teachers, will vote to hold the Government accountable. Their vote is neither going to form a Government nor remove anyone from power. It will make the Government accountable for the next four years, and put a check on its wrong programmes.”

For the Graduates’ constituencies, those who have held a graduate degree from a recognised university in India for at least three years and reside in the constituency concerned are eligible to vote.

Similarly, for the Teachers’ constituencies, those with at least three years of teaching experience in secondary schools, colleges and universities can vote. In both cases, the voters must be registered on the electoral rolls prepared for the purpose.

Kishor alleged that graduates were suffering because of “unemployment, broken education system, corruption, floods, and migration”. Their “hopes and expectations were bought in exchange for Rs 10,000” during last year’s Assembly election in the state, the Bankipur MLA alleged.

The opposition has been alleging that BJP “bought” votes in Bihar by making cash transfers of Rs 10,000 to lakhs of women even though the Model Code of Conduct was in force.

The Government had disbursed the first instalment of Rs 10,000 each to women under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojna ahead of the 2025 Bihar assembly elections.

In an appeal to voters, the Jan Suraaj leader said, “Over the last 30 years, you voted for BJP out of fear of Lalu Ji, and for Lalu Ji out of fear of BJP. You voted in the name of caste and religion, but now you should vote to establish a new alternative in the form of Jan Suraaj that will force those in power to work for the people out of fear.”

He also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly not responding to the flood situation in Bihar and taking a discriminatory approach.

“More than 50 lakh people are affected by floods in Bihar. Let alone offering help, Modi Ji has not made a single statement for flood victims. If it rains in Gujarat, the Central Government rushes to help. But there is no consideration for Bihar,” he claimed.

Claiming that “more than one crore men from Bihar migrate for meagre wages” in want of opportunities here, the Jan Suraaj founder urged voters to break the “bondage of caste, religion and party” and vote in their “own interest.”

Kishor promised the implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission for teachers if his candidates won. “Jan Suraaj will not come back to you asking for votes if we fail to ensure the Seventh Pay Commission for teachers,” he said.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the Jan Suraaj party on Wednesday met Election Commission officials in Patna, seeking a change in the polling date, citing proximity to the Dussehra festival, difficulty for teachers posted far away from their homes, and it being held on a weekday.

They demanded that polling be held on any Sunday before November 16, instead of October 23, which is a Friday.