Senior leader of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Shivanand Tiwari has given an important political statement regarding the high-profile Bankipur assembly by-election in Bihar. In a long post on social media, he claimed that looking at the current situation, Jan Suraj founder Prashant Kishore seems to be leading in this contest. He also raised questions on the election strategies of both BJP and Grand Alliance.
Shivanand Tiwari said that Bankipur has been a stronghold of BJP for a long time. First Naveen Kishore and later Nitin Naveen have been winning this seat continuously. However, he noted that the situation is no longer the same and the electoral equations seem to be changing. There has also been a perception that Kayastha voters have the most influence here and for a long time candidates from this social background have been winning elections. But this time the circumstances seem different. Shivanand Tiwari said that as a political activist, I see Prashant Kishor’s upper hand in this election.
Questions raised on the strategy of the Grand Alliance
Shivanand Tiwari has cited the condition of the Grand Alliance as the first reason behind this. Rashtriya Janata Dal has again fielded the same woman candidate who had lost the last election. What is even more important is that at the most crucial time of the elections, key leaders of the Grand Alliance have gone abroad. When the top leadership of a party is not giving priority to the election campaign of its candidate, then it is natural to have an impact on the morale of the workers and the confidence of the voters. Politics is not only a game of organization but also of psychology.
BJP’s decisions raised many questions
Shivanand Tiwari said that on the other hand, the kind of confusion and confusion shown by Bharatiya Janata Party in candidate selection has raised many questions. This is the prestigious seat vacated by the National President of BJP. The first declared candidate had to be removed and then another candidate was brought forward. After listening to him one is surprised at BJP. It is said that the most enlightened voters live in this assembly constituency. Selection of such a candidate from such an area is an insult to those enlightened voters. This kind of situation in such an important seat was not expected from an organized party like BJP.
Prashant Kishore has the upper hand
Shivanand Tiwari has said that Prashant Kishore has the upper hand. He said that unlike the Grand Alliance and BJP, Prashant Kishor’s biggest strength is his long experience of political strategy and election management. He has run successful campaigns as an election strategist in many states. Therefore, it is difficult to believe that he would have decided to contest elections from a seat like Bankipur without deep study and solid political calculations. This is definitely a big risk, because till now BJP has been getting more than 50 percent votes here. But big political changes often begin with such risks.
BJP’s confidence may prove wrong
Tiwari said that it seems that BJP is more confident about this election. To assume that this seat will be won easily on the basis of social equations alone may prove to be wrong. It is true that Kayastha voters have influence here, but it is not so that only Kayastha voters make BJP win the elections. A large number of people also live in this area, to whom basic civic facilities are not adequately available even today.
The competition is not with the candidate, but with the government.
Tiwari said that Prashant Kishore has tried to present this election as a referendum not only against the BJP candidate but against the entire state government. He is continuously saying that his competition is not with any one candidate, but with the government. This strategy has elevated the elections from local contests to a subject of wider political discussion.
What will happen if Prashant Kishor wins the elections?
Shivanand Tiwari said that if Prashant Kishor wins this election, his political influence will not be limited to Bankipur only. In the upcoming assembly elections, the axis of opposition may change and Prashant Kishor may emerge as a major option. However, at the end of his post, Shivanand Tiwari also clarified that his assessment is not based on any survey, but it is his personal political analysis based on the experience and understanding of an experienced political activist.
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