Not floating political party for now, will hold foot march: PK
PATNA: Election strategist Prashant Kishor on Thursday announced he will begin a 3,000- km foot march from Bihar’s West Champaran on Gandhi Jayanti (October 2) even as he was not floating a political party, for now, days after his cryptic tweet about going directly to the people created a buzz in political circles on Monday. He said Bihar needs a new order and added it is not necessary to contest elections alone for this.
Kishor said he will meet around 17,000 people from different fields and take their views on taking Bihar forward over the next three to four months. “If they decide to have a political party or organisation, then we will take a call by August-September,” he said, adding that he will not be the proposed party’s all in all. “It is going to be a collective effort.”
Kishor referred to his march from West Champaran, where Mahatma Gandhi launched his resistance against the British in 1917, and said Bihar has a very rich history. He added the march will help him connect with people and understand the ground realities. “I will take people who want the change and have the will to change.”
Kishor said any decision on floating the party will be taken only after meeting people who share the same thoughts about Jan Suraj (good governance).
In his tweet on Monday, Kishor, 45, who has been toying with the idea of entering politics in his home state of Bihar, said his quest to be a meaningful participant in democracy and help shape pro-people policy led to a 10-year roller-coaster ride. He added it was time to go to the real masters, the people, to better understand the issues and the path to good governance.
Kishore’s announcements come when Bihar is in a state of flux. There have been murmurs of chief minister Nitish Kumar facing an existential crisis within the ruling coalition even as the BJP has maintained there is no question of a change of chief ministership. The BJP is the bigger party in the legislature, with 77 lawmakers while JD (U) has 43. There has been a talk of Kumar either moving to Delhi or stepping down.
Kishor said “Lalu Prasad’s supporters claim development with social justice while Nitish Kumar’s supporters claim development on economic and social parameters. There is some truth in their claims.”