Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) is set to contest its first election in the upcoming Bihar by-elections. On Wednesday, October 16, Kishor, along with the party’s working president Manoj Bharti, revealed that retired Lieutenant General Krishna Singh, a former Vice Chief of the Army Staff, will be the party’s candidate for the Tarari by-election.
During a press conference, Kishor emphasised the importance of Singh’s candidacy, stating that he brings with him a wealth of experience and prestige. “Lt Gen Singh is the only Vice Chief of the Army Staff from Bihar, besides the late S.K. Sinha,” Kishor noted, highlighting Singh’s strong credentials and the pride his candidacy brings to the region. Kishor further stressed that the people of Tarari have long grappled with issues of illegal sand mining and mafia-related activities, and Singh’s leadership could mark a turning point for the constituency.
Lt Gen Krishna Singh, who hails from Tarari in Bhojpur district, expressed a deep sense of duty towards his hometown despite having lived in Delhi-NCR since his retirement in 2013. Speaking at the press conference, Singh shared the emotional bond that drew him back to contest the election. “The respect I get there for having served in the army is something I never saw in Delhi or Noida,” he remarked, highlighting the admiration and honour he receives from the local community.
While the retired general’s candidacy has stirred excitement, he also raised critical concerns about the Indian Army’s Agniveer scheme. Under this scheme, new recruits sign a four-year service contract, a policy that Singh believes could undermine the long-standing military tradition of “regimentation.”
“Regimentation is crucial for fostering long-term dedication among soldiers,” Singh explained, voicing apprehension over the potential weakening of unit cohesion under the short-term service policy. However, despite his criticisms, Singh urged the youth to still consider the Army as a viable career option, noting that policies like Agniveer could evolve and be amended over time.
Reflecting on the Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese troops in 2020, Singh observed that while the Chinese soldiers were better equipped in terms of technical knowledge, they lacked the spirit, or “jazba,” that Indian soldiers possessed, which ultimately played a decisive role in the conflict.
The Tarari by-election is happening after the election of CPI (ML) leader Sudama Prasad to the Lok Sabha from the Arrah constituency. Singh’s candidacy, though unexpected, was chosen over former IPS officer Anand Mishra, who had been a strong contender due to his extensive time spent in Tarari. The JSP’s decision to field Lt Gen Singh has fueled speculation about the party’s strategic direction and its efforts to appeal to both the Bhumihar community and a broader voter base concerned with law and order issues.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is considering fielding either Sunil Pandey, a well-known figure from the Bhumihar community with a reputation for toughness, or his son Vishal Prashant. Both candidates are seen as strong contenders, and their potential candidacy adds further intrigue to the by-election.
As JSP makes its political debut, the choice of Lt Gen. Krishna Singh as its candidate signals Prashant Kishor’s strategy of bringing respected figures from diverse backgrounds into the political fold. With Singh’s military credentials and commitment to his hometown, the Tarari by-election is shaping up to be a closely watched contest, one that could offer the JSP a foothold in Bihar’s political landscape.
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