CJI to Prashant Kishor: People Rejected You, Now Seeking Publicity in Court
CJI dismisses Prashant Kishor's plea, says people rejected Jan Suraaj and it's just seeking publicity.
The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea filed by poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor’s party, Jan Suraaj, challenging the results of the Bihar Assembly elections held in November last year. The party, which made its electoral debut, failed to win any of the 238 seats it contested and secured less than four per cent vote share.
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant expressed strong displeasure while dismissing the petition. Questioning the party’s intent, the Chief Justice remarked that voters had rejected Jan Suraaj and asked whether the judicial platform was being used for publicity. Justice Joymalya Bagchi also questioned the logic of approaching the Supreme Court directly.
The court directed Jan Suraaj to approach the Bihar High Court instead, stating that the matter was not of pan-India importance. The bench pointed out that election-related grievances should first be raised before the appropriate High Court, as per established legal remedies.
In its petition filed under Article 32, Jan Suraaj alleged violations of the Model Code of Conduct by the ruling JD(U)-BJP alliance. The party objected to the disbursal of Rs 10,000 to one woman per family during the election period, claiming it influenced voters and amounted to corrupt practices.
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Senior advocate CU Singh, appearing for Jan Suraaj, argued that benefits were extended to nearly 25–35 lakh women voters and that such actions undermined free and fair elections. However, the Supreme Court said it must be proven that a specific candidate gained undue advantage for it to qualify as corrupt practice.
After the election, Prashant Kishor had reiterated similar claims in an interview with NDTV, alleging that cash transfers and additional payments by the ruling alliance swayed voters. While the court acknowledged that the broader issue of poll freebies is under judicial consideration, it stated that it preferred petitions from public-spirited individuals rather than parties that suffered a complete electoral defeat.
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