Poll strategist-turned-political activist Prashant Kishor on Monday had to put off his ongoing Jan Suraj' padayatra in Bihar (march on foot) after he suffered a muscle injury in his left leg. He said he would resume the padyatra from Samastipur district in the same format from June 11 after resting for a few days and getting treated.
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“I’ve got a muscle tear in my left leg which, the doctors said, was caused by walking long distances on bad roads. I’ve been advised to rest along with medication. There is no other health issue as I’m hale and hearty. So, I’m putting off my padyatra and will start again after some days in the same format”, Mr Kishor said while addressing media persons at Morwa in Samastipur. Several retired bureaucrats recently, joined Mr Kishor’s Jan Suraaj campaign. Mr Kishor is likely to form a political party after completion of his padyatra and would contest the upcoming polls in the state. Having begun on Gandhi jayanti on October 2’ 2022 from West Champaran, Mr Kishor, so far, has travelled over 2,500kms across the state and has covered over seven districts of Bihar. He has been travelling 20-25kms everyday in the hinterland and addressing people.
The padyatra is to resume after a break of about 25-days from June 11’ 2023. “Many friends and colleagues advised me to resume the padyatra by travelling in a vehicle for some distance or, in some other way but let me assure you all that I’ll resume my padyatra in the same format and from here, at this place in Samastipur”, Mr Kishor announced. Mr Kishor further said he was diagnosed with problem in the leg while he was in Vaishali district but, after treatment he resumed. “However, doctors have now advised rest for a few days along with medication”, he said.
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Mr Kishor’s padyatra has gained some traction in Bihar’s political circles as political parties have been accusing him of being in cahoots with others. During his padyatra, Mr Kishor, though, has been attacking both, the ruling mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) in Bihar and the Opposition BJP on several issues. Recently in April this year, in a by-election to a legislative council seat, an Independent candidate Afaque Ahmad backed by Mr Kishor’s Jan SuraajAbhiyan (campaign), won the Saran Teachers seat and surprised other political parties, including the BJP candidate.
On the Karnataka Assembly poll, Mr Kishor, while addressing media persons in Samastipur, said that “Congress should not forget that in 2013 too the party won elections in the state but in the 2014 polls BJP won all the Parliamentary seats. All elections are different from each other”. He also took a swipe at the BJP for putting up posters of Swami Dhirendra Shastri alias Bageshwar Baba at party headquarters, instead of Lord Ram.
“It seems BJP has now lost trust in lord Rama and has been putting posters of Dhirendra Shastri in party offices. This shows BJP’s mindset”, said Mr Kishor. He also added, “the BJP should put up posters of the Ram temple getting constructed at Ayodhya and ask for votes in the name of lord Rama. But, why the photos of Dhirendra Shastri, this shows you BJP’s progress”.
Political strategist-turned-activist Prashant Kishor on May 15 said that he has suffered an injury which will keep him off his 'Jan Suraj' padayatra in Bihar for about a month.
The padayatra, which commenced on Gandhi Jayanti, may now resume after about 15 days during which he will be recuperating from a muscle tear, he told reporters in Samastipur.
Mr. Kishor said that he was diagnosed with the health problem by doctors after his return from Valisahli, where he had developed a pain in his left leg.
"I am encountering no other health problem. The muscle tear was caused by walking long distances on bad roads. I refused to take a break in order to maintain honesty of purpose", the 45-year-old IPAC chief told reporters at Morwa in Samastipur.
"It has been advised that since the padayatra will take many more months to cover every nook and corner of Bihar, I halt for some time to allow the healing process. The padayatra will resume after about 15 days from this very spot in the same format and with the same intensity," he said.
The strategist, who has rubbed shoulders with the who's who of Indian politics, claims to have had his fill of professional consultancy. He said he is focusing on helping Bihar, his home State, come out of the quagmire of economic stagnation that has made migration a way of life for its people.
Mr. Kishor has been making it clear that his 'Jan Suraaj' campaign may evolve into a full-fledged political party, rooted in the real issues facing Bihar. He, however, ruled himself out as the leader.
Major political formations in the State seem bewildered by his drive and the ruling 'Mahagathbandhan' as well as BJP have suspected him of being in cahoots with their respective opponents.
Nonetheless, the campaign seems to have gained some traction of late, with the surprise victory of an independent candidate backed by it in a recent by-election to a legislative council seat. Many retired IAS and IPS officers joined the campaign.
