Prashant Kishor Calls Migrant Workers the ‘X Factor’ That Could Rewrite Bihar’s Political Future
Prashant Kishor hails returning migrants as game-changers in Bihar's high-stakes election battle.
Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor has ignited a fresh debate by declaring migrant workers as the ultimate "X factor" that could upend the political landscape. With voting wrapping up on November 6 amid a historic 64.66% turnout—the highest since Independence—Kishor pointed to the influx of Bihari migrants who returned home for the Chhath Puja festivities and chose to linger, urging their families to hit the polls. This surge in participation, he argued, signals a seismic shift after decades of voter apathy, transforming what was once a predictable contest into a nail-biter across the 121 constituencies that went to the booths.
Kishor's optimism stems from his party's meteoric rise as a credible third force in Bihar's cutthroat arena, where the ruling NDA—led by Nitish Kumar's JD(U) and BJP—has held sway since 2005, and the opposition Mahagathbandhan, spearheaded by Tejashwi Yadav's RJD, is gunning for a comeback. Surveys and opinion polls have repeatedly shown Jan Suraaj, just a year old, capturing the hearts of "pravasis" (migrants) disillusioned with the status quo. "The highest voter turnout confirms our mantra: Bihar is desperate for change after 30 years in a political rut," Kishor declared, emphasizing how his grassroots Bihar Badlav Yatra—covering over 5,000 km and 5,500 villages—has built a viable alternative focused on governance, education, and clean politics.
Dismissing the NDA's strategy of doling out welfare sops to women voters, who indeed turned out in droves, Kishor mocked their overconfidence. "They thought freebies would seal the deal, but while women showed up strong, it's the migrants who are the real wildcard," he quipped. These returning sons and daughters of the soil, many from urban hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, and Gulf countries, aren't just voting—they're mobilizing entire clans. Having endured economic hardships and unkept promises back home, their stories of migration woes resonate deeply, channeling frustration into fervent calls for "badlao" (change). In a state where remittances fuel 40% of the economy, this bloc's sway could prove decisive in close races.
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The ripple effects of this migrant momentum are already palpable, with Jan Suraaj contesting all 243 seats in a bold debut, positioning itself against both the NDA's "tired incumbency" and the Mahagathbandhan's "empty rhetoric." Kishor didn't hold back on jabs at rivals, sarcastically advising Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary to fret over his own Tarapur seat rather than prematurely claiming NDA glory. Meanwhile, allegations of foul play linger—Kishor recently accused BJP heavyweights of pressuring three Jan Suraaj candidates to withdraw nominations in seats like Danapur and Gopalganj, branding it a threat to democracy. As phase two looms on November 11, with results due on the 14th, the air crackles with anticipation.
This migrant-driven fervor underscores a broader narrative in Bihar: a populace weary of caste-based vote banks and dynastic politics, craving systemic overhaul. For Jan Suraaj, it's validation of Kishor's pivot from poll strategist to reformer, potentially heralding a new era. As Prime Minister Modi rallies for NDA continuity and Rahul Gandhi stumps for the opposition, the eyes of India—and its diaspora—remain glued to Bihar, where ordinary migrants might just script an extraordinary upset.
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