Abdul Qadir | Team TrickyScribe: Now that the dust on Bihar’s by-election campaign has settled, it is introspection time for Prashant Kishor, the poll coach who has now decided to become a player. Unlike sports, where burnt-out players decide to play coach, Prashant Kishor has chosen the reverse.
Coaches as Players
Coaches rarely make good players. Moreover, contrary to his claims, Kishor has not altered or modified the grammar of Bihar politics. The list of his star campaigners did not elicit much confidence, as discredited veterans of Bihar politics, like Monazir Hasan, found a place in Jan Suraj’s roll of honour. Monazir Hasan, it may be recalled, cut his political teeth during the so-called Jungle Raj.
Quackery in Politics
By choosing Jitendra Paswan, said to be a quack, as his Imamganj candidate, Prashant Kishor, in a way, defined his politics — the politics of quackery. American English defines a quack as “a fraudulent or ignorant pretender to medical skills.” Apart from the penal provisions of the Medical Council Act, there are provisions for the punishment of quacks under Section 120B (criminal conspiracy), Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), Section 420 (cheating), and Section 416 (impersonation).
Candidate Choices and Criminal Charges
Not only that, the man who promises to cleanse the state’s political doghouse has chosen candidates who, besides practicing quackery, enjoy an “unsavoury” image in their respective areas. Whether it be Belaganj or Imamganj, the Jan Suraj Party has fielded candidates facing serious criminal charges, including attempted murder and kidnapping. Both are turncoats as well, having contested previous elections as candidates for other parties.
First Impressions and Missteps
Political observers believe that Prashant Kishor, while making his electoral debut, put his wrong foot forward. He invited ridicule — perhaps rightly so — for changing candidates in Tarari and Belaganj. In Tarari, Prashant Kishor’s initial choice did not even fulfill the eligibility criteria.
Unlikely Allies and Limited Influence
With the help of discredited discards of Bihar politics and retired bureaucrats, even cosmetic change to the face of Bihar politics is unlikely. Credible accounts suggest that in Belaganj, Prashant’s candidate would at best be a poor third. In Imamganj, Prashant’s candidate may tilt the ongoing war between Jitan Ram Manjhi and Chiragh Paswan for the leadership of Bihar Dalits in favour of Chiragh.
Chirag Paswan’s Tacit Support
Ground reports say that the Imamganj candidate of Jan Suraj enjoys the tacit support of Chiragh Paswan’s followers. If Jitan Ram Manjhi’s daughter-in-law, Deepa Manjhi, is defeated, it would weaken Manjhi. A weak Manjhi means a stronger Paswan.
Funding and Transparency Concerns
The amount of money being spent by Prashant Kishor is also being viewed with genuine skepticism. Kishor has been heard boasting that he used to charge Rs 100 crores from his clients for election management. If that is true, Prashant Kishor should make public his Income Tax returns of the last ten years. Political probity requires at least this much transparency.
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