Patna, May 5 (FN Agency) Eminent poll strategist Prashant Kishore on Thursday announced that he would embark on Padyatra of 3,000 KMs from Champaran, the pious land in Bihar from where Mahatma Gandhi had launched agitation against the British regime, to know the real issues of the people before taking a call on launching of a new political party. Kishor, amid intense speculations on the launching of new political party by him, dismissed all such possibilities at the moment and told media persons that he would embark on 3000 KMs long Padyatra (march) covering almost all parts of Bihar and his gigantic exercise to interact with people to know their problems and real issues, would begin from Champaran, the pious place from where Mahatma Gandhi had launched an agitation against British regime, on issue of injustice, meted out to farmers then. During ‘Padyatra’, he would try to meet all sections of the society as much as possible in almost all parts of the state which would help him understand their problems and real issues, he added.
Poll strategist said that he had prepared a database of 17,500 people from all walks of life including politics, students and professionals to seek their views on problems being faced by people of the state and its solution. All of them were unanimous in view that a collective approach and efforts were needed to work with the spirit of “Jan Suraj” for the development of Bihar, he added. Kishor said that during the last 30 years, power remained in hands of two seasoned leaders of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD president Lalu Prasad. Despite both remaining at the helm of affairs in last 30 years, Bihar was at the bottom of all states of the country in various development parameters, he lamented. Even NITI Aayog in its several reports had brought to light the people about the pathetic condition of the state, he pointed out.
Poll strategist said that NDA government was in power in Bihar and at the Centre, so the findings of NITI Aayog could not be dismissed as a result of political vendetta. It could also not be alleged that misleading data were used to put the NDA government of Bihar in dock, he pointed out. Kishor also referred to the anguish of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on questions being asked by journalists about NITI Aayog report, as Kumar retorted by saying that NITI Aayog was not aware of the ground realities of the state. If NITI Aayog was not aware, people of Bihar were aware of the grim scenario in the state as a large number of the state migrated to other parts of the country to earn their livelihood in a very difficult condition, he quipped. The poll strategist said if an opinion came up after interacting with people, that there was a need to launch a political party, he would definitely launch it. The party launched by him would not be only his outfit as he would also be among one of its stakeholders, he clarified.