Bihar polls: Prashant Kishor claims 3 Jan Suraaj candidates ‘forced to withdraw’ due to BJP pressure

Jan Suraaj founder and former political strategist Prashant Kishor on Tuesday alleged that three of his party’s candidates were “forced to withdraw their nominations” in the last few days due to pressure from the Bharatiya Janata Party, ANI reported.

Addressing a press conference, he said that the withdrawn candidates had been fielded from Danapur, Brahampur and Gopalganj.

Kishor accused Union Ministers Amit Shah and Dharmendra Pradhan of using intimidation tactics to force his party’s candidates to withdraw from key constituencies, The Indian Express reported.

He alleged that Shah “detained” Jan Suraaj candidate Akhilesh Kumar in Danapur, preventing him from filing his nomination. He also alleged that Pradhan played a key role in coercing the three candidates to withdraw.

Jan Suraaj had earlier announced candidates for all 243 assembly seats in Bihar. With the three withdrawals, the party will now contest 240 seats.

“The BJP has always projected that no matter who wins, they will form the government,” The Indian Express quoted him as saying. “But this time, it is Jan Suraaj that has shaken their confidence.”

Kishor accused the BJP of attempting to replicate the “Surat model” in Bihar, ANI reported.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJP candidate Mukesh Dalal was declared the winner from Surat after the Congress’ candidate was disqualified by the polling officer and other candidates withdrew their nominations.

He alleged that...

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