Second Jan Suraaj Candidate List Out: Will Prashant Kishor Take on Raghopur?

In a move that's got Bihar's political circles buzzing, Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party is poised to unveil its second list of candidates for the 2025 Assembly elections today, just four days after dropping the first batch of 51 names. The real intrigue? Whether the maverick strategist-turned-politician will finally confirm his electoral debut from Raghopur—the Vaishali stronghold of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) heir apparent Tejashwi Yadav, who's gunning for a third straight win.

Kishor, the 47-year-old poll wizard known for masterminding victories for everyone from Narendra Modi to Nitish Kumar, has been teasing a direct face-off with the 35-year-old Yadav. "I'll trounce him like Rahul Gandhi in Amethi," Kishor quipped during a fiery rally in Raghopur on October 11, where he launched the party's statewide campaign amid thunderous cheers, garlands, and dhol beats from ecstatic supporters. The constituency, a mere 50 km from Patna across the Ganga, erupted as Kishor grilled locals: "Your MLA's been deputy CM twice—ever gotten an audience for your woes?" The crowd's resounding "No!" only fueled the fire, painting Yadav as an aloof dynast.

Party insiders remain zipped, but whispers suggest the second list could shatter the suspense. "If Kishor's name pops up for Raghopur, it's game on," one senior leader hinted, adding that a third list might follow soon to cover the remaining 243 seats. The debut rollout on October 9 spotlighted Jan Suraaj's "clean slate" ethos, featuring a diverse mix: 16% Muslims, 17% from Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), and heavy hitters like former IPS officer R.K. Mishra (Darbhanga), Patna High Court lawyer Y.V. Giri (Manjhi), ex-Vice Chancellor K.C. Sinha (Kumhrar), and Bhojpuri sensation Ritesh Ranjan Pandey (Kargahar)—a nod to Kishor's home turf, hinting he might skip it for the Yadav turf.

Also Read: Tejashwi Yadav Confirms Dual Contest Strategy for Upcoming Bihar Polls 2025

Launched in 2024 as an anti-corruption crusade, Jan Suraaj is contesting every seat solo, positioning itself as Bihar's anti-establishment wildcard against the NDA's caste calculus and the INDIA bloc's family fiefdoms. Polls on November 6 and 11, with results November 14, could upend the status quo if Kishor's star power sways the youth and disillusioned voters tired of the BJP-JD(U) juggernaut and RJD's Yadav-centric pitch. For Tejashwi, who's rebuilt RJD post-2020 drubbing, a Kishor invasion spells high drama—could the strategist who once plotted his father's 2015 win now orchestrate his downfall?

As anticipation builds for today's announcement, Bihar watches: Will Kishor jump into the fray, turning Raghopur into poll central? Or will he play coy, saving the bombshell for later? Either way, this list drop is set to crank up the heat in a state where every seat tells a story of ambition, alliances, and audacity.

Also Read: PM Modi’s 2014 Strategist Turns Politician: Prashant Kishor Enters Bihar Battle