High Fees for Political Advising

Political strategist and Jan Suraj convenor, Prashant Kishor, has disclosed his fee for advising political campaigns, revealing he charges a minimum of Rs 100 crore to guide any party or leader through elections. Kishor shared this information during an event in Belaganj while campaigning for the upcoming by-elections in Bihar.

Addressing Campaign Funding Questions

During his speech, Kishor addressed questions about his campaign funding, noting that his strategies are employed by ten state governments. He stated, “With my fees, I don’t lack resources for campaign needs. Advising a single election funds my campaigns for the next two years.”

Challenging Traditional Voting Patterns

Kishor, founder of Jan Suraj and the Indian Political Action Committee (IPAC), urged Bihar residents to reconsider voting patterns based on caste (‘jaat’) and free rations (‘bhaat’). He suggested that these habits have contributed to the state’s ongoing challenges. Criticizing previous governments, including Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar, he claimed, “For 35 years, Bihar was held back by ‘jaat’ politics. In the past decade, the Modi government has short-changed you for 5 kg of free rations. A better future lies in changing these patterns.”

Jan Suraj’s Participation in Bihar By-Elections

Jan Suraj has fielded four candidates for the upcoming by-elections, scheduled for November 13. The party has nominated:

• Mohammad Amjad (Belaganj)
• Jitendra Paswan (Imamganj)
• Sushil Kumar Singh Kushwaha (Ramgarh)
• Kiran Singh (Tarari)

The Election Commission has assigned the party symbol of a school bag to all Jan Suraj candidates, with election results expected on November 23.

Kishor’s Key Contributions to Political Campaigns

Prashant Kishor’s strategies have been instrumental in various campaigns, including:

• BJP: Crafted the successful 2014 Lok Sabha campaign for Narendra Modi, helping BJP secure a historic win.
• Janata Dal (United): A significant force in the 2015 Bihar assembly elections, aiding the JD(U)-RJD-Congress alliance to victory.
• Congress: Although unsuccessful in the 2017 UP elections, Kishor later helped Congress secure Punjab in the 2021 assembly elections.
• YSR Congress Party: Led Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSRCP to victory in the 2019 Andhra Pradesh elections.
• Trinamool Congress: Crucial for Mamata Banerjee’s 2021 re-election in West Bengal amid stiff BJP competition.
• Aam Aadmi Party: Advised AAP in the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections, resulting in a sweeping victory.