Patna witnessed significant political developments on Saturday as Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor addressed key election issues during his campaign, directly challenging Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's allegations of vote theft in the Bihar assembly elections.
Vote Theft Claims Dismissed as Irrelevant
Speaking to reporters, the former poll strategist firmly stated that vote chori (vote theft) was not an issue in the current Bihar electoral battle. Kishor questioned the relevance of Rahul Gandhi's focus on the state, emphasizing that no voter in Bihar had complained about name deletion from electoral rolls.
"Why hijack the Bihar elections when no one here has said that their names have been deleted from the electoral rolls?" Kishor asked during his media interaction. He suggested that the Congress leader should instead move court and launch a nationwide agitation rather than bringing irrelevant allegations to Bihar's political landscape.
Youth Emerge as Election Game Changer
Kishor predicted a significant badlao (change in government) this election, identifying youth as the real "X factor" rather than women voters. He revealed an interesting shift in voting patterns, noting that migrant workers hadn't returned after Chhath festival this time, unlike previous elections.
"The migrant workers didn't return after Chhath this time; rather, they are coming and asking the female members to vote as per their wishes since they want a change in the government," Kishor explained. He highlighted that the high voter turnout in the first phase clearly indicated that Bihar was headed for transformation.
The political strategist made a bold assertion that youth won't ruin their future for Rs 10,000, directly referencing the NDA government's cash assistance scheme for women entrepreneurs.
Shifting Allegiances and Campaign Strategies
Kishor claimed that migrant workers who once supported the NDA had now shifted their allegiance toward Jan Suraaj. He made serious allegations about transportation arrangements, stating that "initially, special trains were arranged to bring migrant workers back to Bihar, but when it was found that these workers were not voting for the BJP, those trains stopped running."
Commenting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's sharp attacks on the RJD, Kishor analyzed that the BJP's campaign had turned negative because the NDA had "nothing substantial to show" to the people. He criticized the attempt to secure votes by invoking fear of Lalu Prasad and his 'jungle raj', asserting that this strategy wouldn't work this election season.
"Why would people vote for the NDA when another option in the form of Jan Suraaj is available before them?" Kishor concluded, positioning his party as the viable alternative for Bihar's electorate seeking change.
