Political strategist-turned-activist Prashant Kishor announced on Saturday that a platform supported by his organization 'Jan Suraaj' will field at least 75 candidates from the Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) category in the 2025 Bihar assembly polls. Kishor emphasized that people from the EBC community have historically been exploited by ruling parties in the state.
Addressing a function ahead of the birth anniversary of socialist leader Karpoori Thakur, Kishor highlighted the initiative to empower the EBC community in the upcoming elections. He stated, "In the Bihar assembly elections of 2025, you will see for the first time at least 75 people from the EBC category contesting the election from a single platform. We will put all our strength behind them."
Kishor expressed concern about the historical neglect of the EBC community by political parties in Bihar and asserted that Jan Suraaj aims to address their betterment and upliftment. While he did not explicitly declare the transformation of Jan Suraaj into a political party, Kishor outlined the organization's commitment to supporting EBC students in preparing for competitive examinations.
Under the initiative, 'Jan Suraaj' plans to provide financial assistance to at least 500 EBC students annually, selecting 10 to 15 students from each district to receive support for competitive exams.
The move aligns with the findings of a caste survey conducted by the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar, which revealed that 63% of the state's population, totaling 13.07 crore, belongs to the Other Backward Class (OBC) and Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) categories. The announcement by Prashant Kishor underscores efforts to address historical disparities and provide political representation to marginalized communities in Bihar.
(With Agency Inputs)
