Prashant Kishor to embark on 3,500-km 'padyatra' in Bihar from Sunday
Patna, Oct 1: Political strategist Prashant Kishor will embark on a 3,500 km 'padyatra' in Bihar from West Champaran district on Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary on Sunday as part of his 'Jan Suraj' campaign.
The yatra is likely to take anywhere between 12-18 months and it is being widely seen to be a likely precursor to his fresh entry into politics even though he has often stressed that any such decision can only be taken by people who associate themselves with his campaign.
Kishor had joined the JD(U) in 2018 in a short-lived innings as a politician before being expelled in 2020 for his public criticism of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, especially the veteran leader's support to the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
A statement said Kishor will attempt to reach every panchayat and block during the yatra and will be a part of it till its end without taking any break.
He will start his journey from Gandhi Ashram in Bhitiharwa in West Champaran, where the father of the nation had launched his first satyagraha movement in 1917.
In the run up to the yatra, Kishor had been touring the backward state to interact with members of civil society, emphasising that the state does not merely need a change of government but require coming together of well-meaning people to transform the system.
The statement said the yatra has three main goals, including identifying right people at the grassroots and bring them on a democratic platform.
It will also work to make a vision document for the state by incorporating views from experts in different fields, including education, health, agriculture and industry.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
