Prashant Kishor tells Mithila Brahmins to rethink support for BJP
The Jan Suraaj founder argued that the community lost political influence by distancing itself from Muslim voters.
Jan Suraaj founder and Bankipur MLA Prashant Kishor questioned the Brahmin community in Mahinam village, Darbhanga, regarding their support for the BJP. Speaking at an event, Kishor suggested that the community's political power diminished after they lost the support of Muslim voters who previously helped elect their leaders, according to The Indian Express.
Kishor responded to local suggestions that a Brahmin should be fielded as a candidate by noting that the current MLA and the local MP are both Brahmins. He stated that if electing members of one's own caste could resolve local issues, the community would not have faced their current hardships.
He claimed that Brahmin leaders previously benefited from Muslim votes but lost that support after some community members used Facebook to abuse Muslims. Kishor asked if disputes over land, reservation, or communal violence justified this estrangement.
The MLA also criticised BJP leaders for sending their children to study in America and England while encouraging others to engage in religious mobilisation. He described voting based on caste or religion as political “bonded labour” that allows parties to take voters for granted.
Kishor addressed the economic situation in Darbhanga and Madhubani, noting that many families with land and distinguished backgrounds are now seeking jobs paying Rs 20,000 a month. He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding Bihar's floods and contrasted Gujarat's infrastructure with Bihar's train services that facilitate migration.
Ahead of local-body and panchayat elections, Kishor urged voters to select honest candidates based on education and employment rather than caste or religion. He also reiterated his opposition to the creation of a separate Mithila state, stating that Bihar should not be divided further.