Lalu Prasad wants to see his son who failed Class 9 become King of Bihar: Prashant Kishor

JSP Chief Prashant Kishor said that Lalu Prasad’s son didn’t pass Class 9, but he is so worried about his child that he wants him to become the ‘King of Bihar’. File | Photo Credit: ANI

Ahead of the Assembly election in Bihar, Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) founder Prashant Kishor took a jibe at Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad and his son, former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, stating that Mr. Prasad wants his “son who did not pass Class 9” to become the “King of Bihar”.

Mr. Kishor has been criss-crossing the State for his Bihar Badalv yatra (journey for change in Bihar) and raising issue of unemployment among youth. Mr. Kishor founded the Jan Suraaj on October 2, 2024 to offer a “political alternative” to the people and had said he would contest the upcoming election.

“We need to learn from Laluji how to worry about children. His son did not pass Class 9, but he is so worried about his child that he wants him to become the ‘King of Bihar’. When we say this, people say we complain about him. No, we are praising Laluji... but you should look at your condition, your child has passed school and has graduated as well, but he still is not getting a job, even as a peon,” the former political strategist told a crowd at Siwan on Thursday (June 5, 2025).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address a public meeting in Siwan on June 20. The Assembly election is due in October-November.

On June 4, while addressing a public rally in neighbouring Saran district, Mr, Kishor had said that the “strong response to his rallies shows the sheer frustration of the people over corruption in Bihar and reflects a collective desire for change”. A recent pre-poll survey had suggested that Mr. Kishor’s political graph is rising.

“My popularity shows the growing aspiration of people who want to see real change in Bihar,” he said, adding, “The people who have gathered here are not my relatives, nor are they from my caste. They come from diverse sections of society but what unites them is their shared frustration with the corruption that plagues Bihar. There is a collective desire for change.”

In the bye-elections to four seats in Bihar in November 2024, the newly formed Jan Suraaj Party drew a blank, though it had garnered 10% of votes. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidates won all four, with the Bharatiya Janata Party winning Ramgarh and Tarari seats, the Janata Dal (United) bagging Belaganj and the former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi–led Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) securing Imamganj.

Jan Suraaj candidates were instrumental in the defeat of Opposition RJD candidates in their strongholds of Ramgarh and Belaganj.

Mr. Kishor plans to cover all Assembly constituencies over the next 120 days before the election begins. Throughout his yatra, he has urged people to vote for “change”.

The upcoming Assembly election would be a pitched battle between the NDA, which includes the BJP, JD(U), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), HAM(S) and the Upendra Kushwaha-led Rashtriya Lok Samata Party and the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) comprising the RJD, Congress, Left parties and the Mukesh Sahani-led Vikasheel Insaan Party.

Mr. Kishor has attempted to position himself as the third political alternative for voters. In May 2025, former close aide of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and former Union Minister R.C.P. Singh had merged his party, the Aap Sabki Aawaz, with Jan Suraaj. “Some fence sitters may join hands with Mr. Kishor in the coming days,” said political analyst Nawal Kishor Choudhary.

Published - June 05, 2025 09:00 pm IST