Bihar Became a State of Labourers Under Lalu-Nitish Rule, Says Prashant Kishor

Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor slams RJD-JD(U) governance, highlights education as key to ending Bihar’s poverty and welcomes EC’s ‘school bag’ election symbol.

Patna (Bihar), June 27 — In a sharp political attack on the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Janata Dal (United) leadership, Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor on Thursday alleged that three decades of misgovernance under Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar turned Bihar into a “labourers’ state,” forcing children into menial jobs and mass migration of youth in search of livelihood.

“The only way to end poverty, illiteracy and unemployment in Bihar is education. The last 30–35 years of Lalu-Nitish rule have made Bihar a state of labourers. Children here have had to carry sacks on their backs,” Kishor said at a press conference. “But Jan Suraaj’s vision is clear — children will carry school bags, not burdens. They will study, get jobs, and live dignified lives.”

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‘School Bag’ Becomes Symbol of Hope and Reform

The Election Commission of India has officially allotted the ‘school bag’ as the election symbol of the Jan Suraaj Party for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. Kishor welcomed the move, calling it a perfect representation of the party’s central mission — putting education at the heart of Bihar’s development.

He reiterated that unless systemic reforms in education are introduced, poverty and unemployment will persist. “Our politics begins and ends with ensuring every child in Bihar has access to quality education,” Kishor declared.

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Bihar’s Stagnation Despite Modi’s 11 Years in Power

In a recent interview with ANI, Kishor extended his criticism to the Central government, questioning the impact of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 11-year tenure in power. “Despite the BJP ruling at the Centre for over a decade, and JD(U)-BJP ruling Bihar for nearly 20 years, where exactly does Bihar rank No. 1 in any national development index?” he asked.

He accused both state and central governments of promoting fabricated statistics regarding infrastructure achievements such as toilet construction and educational reform. “We still face hunger, poverty, and helplessness,” Kishor noted, claiming Bihar continues to lack basic industrial and employment opportunities.

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Bihar Assembly Composition and 2025 Elections Outlook

Currently, the 243-member Bihar Assembly is controlled by the NDA with 131 seats: BJP (80), JD(U) (45), HAM(S) (4), and support from two independents. The Opposition India Bloc holds 111 seats, consisting of RJD (77), Congress (19), CPI(ML) (11), CPI(M) (2), and CPI (2).

With state elections expected in October or November 2025, though ECI has yet to announce an official date, the Jan Suraaj Party has confirmed it will contest all seats, positioning itself as a reformist alternative to Bihar’s traditional political giants.