
Land reforms top priority of Jan Suraaj: PK
Patna:
Jan Suraaj
founder
Prashant Kishor
(PK) said on Monday that land reforms will be his party's top priority if it comes to power in Bihar, but not for creating family feuds but to provide land to the 60% landless people in the state.
Addressing reporters at Arwal, PK flayed the state govt for conducting land survey in a hurried manner without preparations, leading to fleecing of people in the name of land records by the officials at block offices. He said there are 60% landless people in the state and 86% of them are from dalit section of the society, compared to 38% landless people in the country. His priority will be to bring down the state average to at least the national level by reducing 20-25% of the landless numbers in the state.
PK also said RJD neta Tejashwi Prasad Yadav has, at least, taken a baby step against the liquor prohibition policy of the Nitish govt in Bihar by promising to exclude toddy from the banned list. He said there is only prohibition law in the state while liquor is being sold everywhere.
"The govt is not only losing revenue in the range of Rs 15,000-20,000 crore annually but also making the women fool for votes. If liquor ban is so good, why not the BJP implements it in the states, including Uttar Pradesh, being ruled by the party?" he asked.
PK clarified why he is against the prohibition policy in the state and said the dalits and people from the extremely backward classes are being harassed by the police in the name of liquor ban.
The former poll strategist said land reforms are badly needed in the state. He asked why so many people in the state are landless despite the fact that the govt had acquired around 25 lakh acres of land under the Ceiling Act and Bhoodan movement in Bihar. "What happened to the land acquired and why was it not distributed among the landless people?" he asked and added, "There will be no need to snatch anyone's land to give it to the landless."
He also said Jan Suraaj will distribute tickets for the coming assembly election due later this year to the capable people of every caste and class according to their population in the state. He said the candidates will be announced in a few months.
"The first criterion for tickets in Jan Suraaj will be the candidate's ability. But the number of capable people in Bihar is much more, so tickets will be given to the competent people of that society in proportion to their population in the state," he said.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The Hindu
44 minutes ago
- The Hindu
West Bengal BJP chief faces flak over ‘sex workers' remark
West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president and Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar has landed into a controversy for a remark directed at sex workers in Kolkata's Sonagachi area. The Trinamool Congress on Saturday (June 21, 2025) criticised Mr. Majumdar's remarks and demanded an 'unconditional apology' from the BJP leader. During an altercation with the police on Friday (June 20, 2025), Mr. Majumdar compared Bengal's law and order situation with 'sex workers.' Several leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress spoke against Mr. Majumdar and said that not only the BJP leader insulted sex workers but all the women in the State. 'Sex workers are among the most marginalised and exploited women in our society. They battle stigma, survive abuse, and yet show unimaginable courage just to feed themselves and their children. And what did @BJP4IndiaState President @DrSukantaBJP do? He dragged them through the mud, using their lives and livelihoods as a slur to attack the people of Bengal. Shame on you, BJP. And shame on you, Sukanta Majumdar. You owe every sex worker, every woman, and every resident of Bengal an UNCONDITIONAL APOLOGY,' the TMC posted on X. .@BJP4India State President @DrSukantaBJP owes sex workers an UNCONDITIONAL APOLOGY for his DISGRACEFUL, DEHUMANISING remarks. Using one of the most vulnerable groups in our society as a punchline for political mudslinging is INEXCUSABLE. Those who spew such filth have no moral… — All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) June 21, 2025 Senior Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh said that the BJP leader was referring to sex workers of Sonagachi as an 'expletive'. West Bengal Minister Sashi Panja said that though Sukanta Majumdar claims to be a teacher, but his remarks are 'very disgusting, very disparaging and very disgraceful'. 'He has said that the law and order situation or the law in Bengal can be equated to Songachi sex workers. This is so humiliating to Sonagachi sex workers and we stand by them.' Dr Panja, who represents the constituency where Sonagachi is located. The West Bengal ruling party said using one of the 'most vulnerable groups in our society as a punchline for political mudslinging is inexcusable' and added that those 'who spew such filth have no moral right to occupy any Constitutional office'. The remark by the BJP president comes at a time when the BJP leadership is demanding action against Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal, who used vile language against the mother and wife of the officer-in-charge of Bolpur Police station. An FIR has been filed against Mr. Mondal and the National Commission for Women has sought an action taken report from the police for the TMC leader's remarks. While the police are of the opinion that there is no necessity to arrest the TMC leader, the State ruling has let off Anubrata Mondal without any punishment after he tendered a public apology.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Next-gen netas add flavour to old jaat-paat politics in battle for Bihar
Family Drama: The romance saga involving Lalu's older son Tej Pratap Yadav (right) has become a political issue. It has also created a rift with brother Tejashwi The forthcoming 2025 Bihar assembly election promises to be interesting in many ways. First, it is shaping up to be an election dominated by youth—or, at least, by leaders who are being projected as 'youthful' by their parties. Leaders like RJD chief Tejashwi Yadav , Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary, election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor, former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi's son Santosh Kumar Suman, and the UK-return Pushpam Priya Choudhary are actively holding public rallies and campaigning across Bihar's villages, towns, and bastis. Although most of these leaders are aged between 35 and 55, many young voters in Bihar identify with them. They are seen as relatively fresh, energetic alternatives to older politicians, and not 'phunka hua teer' (a spent, ineffective arrow) or 'chala hua khokha' (an empty, fired shell of a bullet), colloquial jabs that youth often use to describe those past their political prime. Still, this is less a break from the past than a rebranding of it. Except for Kishor, most of these contenders are inheritors of political legacies—sons and daughters stepping into dynastic shoes. There is also speculation that Nishant Kumar, the son of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, may contest because of concerns over his father's health. This generational churn reflects Bihar's demographic reality: according to Census data, 57% of its population is under 25—the highest proportion of young people in the country. That youth bulge is beginning to reshape the political conversation. Second, adding a dramatic subplot to the political theatre is the ongoing family saga involving Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder son of Lalu Prasad Yadav. In a twist worthy of a prime-time soap opera, Tej Pratap recently declared his love for Anushka Yadav on social media, claiming a 12-year-long relationship—despite still being married to Aishwarya Rai, the granddaughter of former CM Daroga Prasad Rai. Though he later claimed his Facebook account was hacked and the photos doctored, Lalu responded by expelling his son from the RJD for six years, citing 'irresponsible behaviour' and actions 'not in accordance with our family values and traditions.' This is no longer just a private family 'affair'—it has entered the political sphere and is likely to influence the election discourse. The controversy has triggered heated inter-generational debates across Bihar, especially between youth and parents in rural and urban areas. Some critics seized the opportunity to question the moral character and family values of RJD, framing the situation as an injustice against Tej Pratap's estranged wife Aishwarya Rai. While many RJD leaders have been on the defensive, some have pointed to similar precedents—such as Ram Vilas Paswan's second marriage — to argue for personal freedom. Among young voters, opinion is split. Some, especially those under-25 voters, seem to sympathise with Tej Pratap and feel Lalu was unnecessarily harsh on his son. Others, particularly in rural Bihar, are uncomfortable with the spectacle and the social media melodrama, especially given the unresolved allegations of domestic abuse from his marriage to Aishwarya. Beyond the controversy, this younger (or young-adjacent) generation of politicians does appear to have injected new energy into the campaign. Their social media battles are flashier, complete with rap tracks and viral videos. More significantly, they are foregrounding issues such as employment, education, youth welfare, public health, and development. Tejashwi Yadav—who focused on unemployment and migration in the 2020 campaign—has promised a 100% domicile policy and job opportunities for locals if voted to power. Prashant Kishor, too, has laid out a vision aimed at reversing Bihar's migration crisis and boosting employment. This shift signals a possible transformation in Bihar's political culture—one that may be inching away from traditional identity politics toward more development-centric narratives. Still, it would be naïve to assume that jaat-paat no longer matters; parties know full well how caste arithmetic can make or break electoral fortunes. No surprise then that, besides nationalism, the NDA is expected to counter the Mahagathbandan's narrative by focusing on its own initiative to include caste data in the upcoming national Census. In a state as politically fragmented as Bihar, it's tough to tell which of these leaders or coalitions will get the upper hand. But what's clear is that the voices and aspirations of young Biharis will dominate the discourse—by sheer demographic force, if nothing else. And in the background, the saga of Tej Pratap Yadav will likely continue to echo through the campaign— reminiscent of the age-old tota-maina stories with love, loyalty and betrayal. Narayan is director, G B Pant Social Science Institute


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Former Corporators Ramp Up Public Outreach In Build-Up To Civic Polls
1 2 3 Nagpur: With civic election procedures gaining momentum, former corporators across the city have become increasingly active in reconnecting with their wards and addressing unresolved civic issues, filling the vacuum created by over three years under the civic administration. Already, the senior rung of leaders in the BJP camp, including CM Devendra Fadnavis, Union minister Nitin Gadkari, and even guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, have started holding Janta Darbars. In Prabhag 26, senior BJP leader and former corporator Dharmapal Meshram recently conducted a detailed review of persistent civic problems. Acting on a slew of complaints from residents, particularly dysfunctional street lights and domestic electricity issues, Meshram held meetings with officials from the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). Meshram called a joint meeting involving Mahavitaran officials, party workers, and citizens to address household power issues. He also instructed the electrical department to immediately repair defunct street lights and install new ones where necessary to restore street illumination in the area. With their party in power in the state, former corpoators from the BJP are also ensuring that NMC officials remain present in their wards to address the issue of civic amenities raised by the citizens. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Meshram pressed executive engineers from NMC's electric, NMC's PWD, and even MSEDCL officials to sort out issues of residents. Meshram is not alone. Vijay aka Pintu Zalke, another former corporator, has also intensified his public outreach. Like others, he has been trying to fill the political void left by the dissolution of the NMC's general body in March 2022 which led to bureaucratic governance without elected representation. With polls likely in the coming months, Zalke and others have begun directly engaging with citizens, addressing grievances, and reviving their grassroots presence. Former BJP city chief Jitendra Kukde, too, has returned to active fieldwork in his former ward. "As I was busy with both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections after being appointed city president, I missed regular interactions with people of my Prabhag," said Kukde, who was later replaced by Dayashankar Tiwari. Now out of party office, Kukde is back on the ground, attempting to rebuild his image and rapport with voters. Several ex-corporators have also reopened their contact offices to directly receive complaints. Former women corporators from opposition camps like Sneha Nikose and Shakshi Raut have become proactive, addressing issues like sewer blockages, irregular garbage collection, low water pressure, and damaged public infrastructure. These efforts come as citizens grow increasingly frustrated with the lukewarm response of the civic officials. With many wards still plagued by basic issues — ranging from faulty street lights and choked drains to uncollected garbage — former corporators are leveraging this discontent to re-establish their political relevance. The surge in activity suggests that while the municipal body remains under administrative control, the unofficial race for the civic body's 151 seats has already begun on the ground.