Poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor on Tuesday accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of coercing three of his Jan Suraaj Party candidates
to withdraw from the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. Jan Suraaj had announced candidates for all 243 assembly seats, but with three withdrawals, it will now contest 240. Speaking at a press conference in Patna, Kishor alleged that the BJP used political and economic intimidation to weaken his party’s prospects in key constituencies. “Democracy is being murdered. There has been no such precedent in the country,” he said, urging the Election Commission to ensure the safety of all candidates.
Three Candidates Withdraw Under Alleged Pressure
Kishor said Jan Suraaj candidates in Danapur, Brahampur, and Gopalganj withdrew their nominations following pressure from senior BJP leaders.
He claimed that Brahampur candidate Satyaprakash Tiwari, who runs a clinic in Patna, had been actively campaigning until Sunday but unexpectedly withdrew his nomination the next morning. Displaying a photograph of Tiwari with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Kishor alleged that the meeting took place a day before the deadline for withdrawal.
“Pradhan went to Tiwari’s home to put pressure on him to withdraw… and the very next day he withdrew his candidature,” Kishor said.
He alleged that the move was meant to ensure victory for the NDA-backed LJP (RV) candidate Hulas Pandey, a local strongman.
Claims of Intimidation in Other Seats
Kishor also alleged that Jan Suraaj’s Gopalganj candidate Shashi Shekhar Sinha pulled out after BJP leaders, including an MLC, met him and “ensured” his withdrawal.
In Danapur, he said candidate Akhilesh Shah alias Mutur Shah was prevented from filing his papers under “political and economic pressure” from top BJP leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah and Dharmendra Pradhan. Kishor claimed the BJP spread rumours that Shah had gone missing and that RJD’s sitting MLA Ritlal Yadav was involved, while, in reality, Shah was “with central ministers.”
Kishor Targets BJP, EC
Kishor accused the BJP of trying to replicate the “Surat model,” where its candidate was elected unopposed after others were allegedly forced to withdraw. “If you are not able to protect the candidates, how will you protect voters?” he asked, calling on the Election Commission to act before public trust erodes.
He also attacked the BJP’s recent electoral record. “The BJP does not realise that voters already punished it nationwide. It won only 240 seats, though it had claimed it would cross 400,” Kishor said, referring to last year’s Lok Sabha results.
BJP Dismisses Allegations
The BJP dismissed Kishor’s claims as politically motivated. “Prashant Kishor is a painted jackal whose colour is fading as polling dates approach. He won’t be seen in Bihar after November 14,” BJP spokesperson Ajay Alok told PTI.
Voting will take place in Bihar in two phases on November 6 and 11, and counting of votes will be on November 14.
