During a TV9 Digital ‘Baithak’ in Begusarai, part of a series of pre-election discussions, Manoj Bharti, the state president of Jan Suraaj, addressed key political questions. Bharti stated that Jan Suraaj will not participate in any alliances with other parties, and that the party’s MLAs will determine the selection of the Chief Minister.
Bharti drew upon his experiences in the foreign service to illustrate the conditions in Bihar, noting how the state often seemed to lag behind due to its constrained social norms and limited perspectives. He contrasted this with other societies where citizens generally understand their rights and boundaries, highlighting this as an important component of a functional society. He blamed Bihar’s problems on the lack of protection of citizens’ rights and the overall disregard for these rights. He stated that Bihar’s backwardness for the past 40 years is also a result of a lack of ethical leadership, suggesting Jan Suraaj’s vision is to unite people of diverse backgrounds to achieve a common goal for the state’s progress.
In response to claims that Prashant Kishor is taking advantage of the emotions of the people of Bihar, Bharti questioned the underlying assumptions, asking about Kishor’s intentions. He suggested that there had to be a reason for Kishor’s departure from Nitish Kumar. Bharti further said that Kishor left because he saw that the leader he backed did not do what was best for the people, leading to Kishor’s decision to engage with the public directly.
Bharti recalled that in 2015, Kishor recognized Modi’s lack of commitment to improving Bihar. This led to the formation of a coalition to exclude the BJP for the state’s development. Despite the intentions, it was unsuccessful. Following this, Kishor withdrew, citing that the leaders he assisted had not served the people. Responding to accusations that Kishor is a dealmaker, Bharti attributed these claims to Jan Suraaj’s and Kishor’s increasing influence, which has made other political groups uneasy. He suggested that these criticisms are tactics intended to mislead the public, and questioned whether they would solve Bihar’s problems. Bharti added that those behind the accusations do not want Bihar to improve.
When asked if he felt betrayed by the party, Bharti explained that he was appointed state president when Jan Suraaj was founded in Bihar. He mentioned that Kishor had stated from the platform that the most qualified person at the grassroots level should be appointed state president, and he was chosen. The core committee subsequently chose Uday Ji for the role of national president.
Bharti stressed that current discussions about caste and religion are irrelevant to his party. He chose to join Jan Suraaj and was offered opportunities by other parties, but he chose Jan Suraaj.
Regarding accusations of not providing evidence for claims against BJP leaders, Bharti mentioned that they have not retracted their comments and are providing the information that they believe the public needs, leaving any clarifications to those who need to provide them. He believes the public is informed.
When asked about his expectations for the upcoming elections, Bharti clarified that Jan Suraaj is not participating to gain power. They will not form alliances, differing from those who are focused solely on attaining power. Instead, their goal is to reform the system. They will not collaborate with criminals, as they believe that such associations would hinder their ability to drive change. Bharti stated that their party is gaining support, with approximately 3 to 5 lakh new members joining every day.