30-year-stronghold taken down in 30 days: Prashant Kishor jabs BJP
Prashant Kishor turned his advancing lead in the Bankipur bypoll into a direct message to the BJP leadership, saying the result was not merely about
Prashant Kishor turned his advancing lead in the Bankipur bypoll into a direct message to the BJP leadership, saying the result was not merely about choosing an MLA but about what kind of leadership Bihar should have. Speaking as the Jan Suraaj chief continued to lead in Bankipur, Kishor said the voters had sent a message to the BJP's central leadership to "make a good person a CM in Bihar". Read Full Story "The people of Bankipur have won and as we discussed during the election campaign, this is not an election to make a MLA," Kishor said. "This is an effort by the people of Bihar to convey this message to the central leadership of the BJP that make a good person a CM in Bihar." He said Bihar needed leadership focused on education, employment, corruption and migration, arguing that children from the state should not have to leave their families and homes in search of low-paid work elsewhere. '30-YEAR GAP FILLED IN 30 DAYS' Kishor claimed the political gap between his Jan Suraaj campaign and the BJP's long-standing hold in the constituency had been closed rapidly. "The 30-year gap has been filled in just 30 days," he said, linking the result to what he described as voters' demand for better governance and opportunities for their children.
He said the election should not be viewed only through the lens of who wins or loses the MLA seat. "Winning or losing the MLA is political, it goes on," Kishor said, while thanking those who supported him and promising to work harder to win over those who did not. KISHOR TAKES AIM AT BJP LEADERSHIP Kishor also turned his attack towards the BJP and the NDA rather than framing the contest as a personal battle with any one leader. "The fight is not personal," he said. "Our fight is not with any individual. It is with the BJP and NDA. The Chief Minister will be made by them." He also referred to Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, saying his criticism was linked to the question of who should lead the state. "If you make a criminal the Chief Minister of Bihar, then Bihar cannot progress," Kishor said, adding that his appeal was for BJP leaders to choose "a good, capable person" as chief minister. Kishor said the choice did not necessarily have to come from outside a particular community. "Instead of Samrat Chaudhary, make some Khuswaha. There is no problem. Make Khuswaha. But make a good man from the Khuswaha community," he said. JOBS AND MIGRATION AT CENTRE OF MESSAGE A major part of Kishor's speech focused on migration from Bihar.
He claimed that more than one crore children from the state were working as labourers outside Bihar and urged the central and state governments to create a special programme to address the issue. "No child should have to leave their home, family, society and go to Gujarat, Bombay, Delhi, Calcutta, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka for Rs 10,000-15,000," he said. Kishor also contrasted development in Gujarat with the situation in Bihar, saying the state deserved better opportunities and infrastructure. "If only the people of Gujarat will get all the facilities, then where will the people of Bihar go?" he asked. "The people of Bihar are not born just to work." He said the BJP had received a five-year mandate and should use it to put capable people in positions of responsibility. 'BANKIPUR WILL NOT BECOME BANGALORE' Kishor also struck a cautious note about what voters could expect if he wins the seat. "If I become a MLA, Bankipur will not become Bangalore," he said, while promising that people would see "some improvement in the next 2-3 months". For Kishor, however, the significance of the contest went beyond Bankipur itself. "The big thing is that this election has not been fought on the streets of Bankipur," he said. "This election has been fought on whose hands should be the leadership of Bihar." He said the Bankipur voters had delivered a direct message to the BJP leadership: "You make a good man the Chief Minister of Bihar." Kishor said Bihar needed a government that could create employment, improve education, reduce corruption and, above all, curb migration.
The BriefWire