Bihar-based social media influencer Manish Kashyap officially joined Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Monday – a development that comes a week after his resignation from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Kashyap was accompanied by a large group of his supporters for the event. This comes months ahead of the assembly election in Bihar. The “union” between himself and Kashyap represented more than just a partnership between two young leaders, Kishor said at the event. “This is not just a union of two youths. In Bihar, there are millions of young people who want change, who want to be free from the rule of Lalu, Nitish, and Modi. They want to be free from corruption, illiteracy, migration, and unemployment. This is a coming together of all those who have the passion and concern to see Bihar change, who want development here just like in other states,” Kishor said. He went on to say: “We want migration to stop, and for our children to have education and employment. This is not just the union of two individuals or two names, but the union of the aspirations of those who have long wanted change in Bihar, but in the absence of options, have voted for Lalu out of fear of Modi and for Modi or Nitish out of fear of Lalu. Now, they see a path, an alternative, a right way forward to reform Bihar”. Kashyap joined the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election. At that time, he had spent nine months in jail after he was arrested last year for “circulating fake videos” on “attacks on Bihari migrants in Tamil Nadu”. However, despite his significant social media following and public profile, he was not given a party ticket to contest the election. He officially announced his resignation from the BJP on June 8. In a video message he posted making the announcement, Kashyap accused the party of having “used” him until the Delhi assembly election. This came after Kashyap was accused of assaulting and “illegally” confining junior doctors in Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) when he allegedly visited the hospital to advocate for a patient. He allegedly began recording a video inside the hospital, which escalated into the altercation, subsequently leading to him being assaulted and mistreated. He cited the incident for leaving the BJP, saying he felt abandoned by the incident after the incident.
