Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraj Party Requests SC To Postpone Bihar Bypolls

Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraj Party has approached the Supreme Court to delay the Bihar by-elections set for November 13. The party's plea highlights that Chhath Puja, a significant festival in Bihar, coincides with the election date. They propose rescheduling the elections to November 20. The Supreme Court is scheduled to review this petition on November 11.

The Jan Suraj Party argues that the Election Commission has previously adjusted election dates in states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Kerala due to religious events. However, they claim that despite Chhath being an important festival in Bihar, the by-election dates remain unchanged. This decision, according to the petition, violates Article 14 of the Constitution, which ensures equality before the law.

Election Candidates and Constituencies

The Jan Suraj Party has revealed its candidates for the upcoming by-elections in four Bihar constituencies: Tarari, Ramgarh, Belaganj, and Imamganj. Among these candidates is retired Lieutenant General SK Singh, who will contest from Tarari. In total, there are 38 candidates vying for these seats.

Initially, 50 candidates had submitted their nominations by October 25. However, six nominations were rejected during scrutiny and another six withdrew from the race. Of all constituencies involved in this election cycle, Belaganj stands out with 14 candidates competing for its seat.

Key Political Contests

In Belaganj, RJD's Vishwanath Kumar Singh is among those contesting. He is the son of Surendra Prasad Yadav whose Lok Sabha election from Jehanabad prompted this by-election. Meanwhile, NDA aims to retain a seat vacated after Manjhi's election from Gaya Lok Sabha constituency but faces strong competition from RJD's Raushan Manjhi.

The outcome of these elections could significantly impact political dynamics within Bihar. As parties prepare for this electoral battle amidst cultural festivities like Chhath Puja, attention remains focused on how these events unfold over coming days.