Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) is making waves in Bihar politics with its bold promises and unconventional strategies ahead of the upcoming assembly polls. A central plank of Kishor's platform is the repeal of the state's prohibition on liquor, coupled with a plan to attract substantial international investment.

Lifting the Liquor Ban

The prohibition of the sale and consumption of alcohol was implemented in Bihar by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in April 2016. Jan Suraaj Party argues that this ban has been a failure, leading to a loss of state revenue and an increase in black market activity and corruption. Kishor has repeatedly vowed to revoke the liquor ban within an hour of his party assuming power. He contends that the ban exists only in government documents and political speeches, with illegal alcohol readily available. He has criticized the government's insensitivity following incidents of deaths caused by poisonous liquor, and condemned corrupt officials and mafias profiting from the crisis.

The JSP estimates that lifting the prohibition could unlock approximately ₹28,000 crore in annual revenue for the state. This revenue, the party proposes, would then be used as leverage to secure loans ranging from ₹5 to ₹6 lakh crore from international financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Attracting Global Funds

To spearhead this ambitious financial strategy, Jan Suraaj has brought on board Kumar Saurav, a finance and law expert with experience as a country head of securitization in a private bank. The party aims to utilize his expertise to navigate the complexities of raising funds from global institutions. Udai Singh, Jan Suraaj Party's national president, has stated that Saurav's background will be invaluable in preparing to raise international funds for Bihar's development.

Criticism and Controversy

Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party is not without its detractors. The Bihar BJP has described the party as a "political startup based on fraud" and has accused Kishor of raising "hundreds of crores of rupees" through "shell companies". The BJP alleges that Kishor is receiving substantial funding from states like West Bengal, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.

In response to these allegations, Kishor disclosed that he earned ₹241 crore as consultancy fees over the past three years. He stated that Jan Suraaj Party's funding is transparent and clean and that he is willing to face any inquiry into his earnings. He also declared that he paid ₹31 crore in GST and ₹20 crore in Income Tax, and donated ₹98.5 crore to Jan Suraaj Party through cheque.

Other Comments

Kishor has also been critical of recent welfare measures announced by the Nitish Kumar government, calling them an "official bribe" to secure votes. He was referring to the state government transferring Rs 10,000 each to the bank accounts of 25 lakh women residents under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana. Kishor has urged people to take the money but to recognize that real change will come only with jobs and education.

The proposal to lift the liquor ban and attract international funds represents a significant departure from the current policies in Bihar. Whether this strategy will resonate with voters remains to be seen.