Prashant Kishor will not contest from Raghopur, Jan Suraj names candidate against Tejashwi Yadav

Instead, Kishor’s outfit Jan Suraaj has fielded Chanchal Singh as its candidate from the high-profile constituency, NDTV reported.

Kishor had earlier hinted that he might enter the fray in the upcoming Bihar election, in which Jan Suraaj is contesting all 243 assembly seats.

During an interview last month, he said deliberations were ongoing and that if his party collectively decided he should contest, the choice would be between Kargahar or Raghopur.

However, after the party announced a candidate for Kargahar, a seat in Rohtas district currently held by Congress MLA Santosh Kumar Mishra, speculation mounted about a possible face-off with Tejashwi Yadav in Raghopur.

Raghopur, often described as the pocket borough of the Lalu Yadav family, has long been a stronghold of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

The seat has previously been represented by Lalu Prasad Yadav and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi, and is currently held by their son Tejashwi Yadav, Leader of the Opposition in Bihar.

While Kishor reiterated that his party would take the final call on his candidature, he had earlier dismissed Tejashwi Yadav’s chances of retaining Raghopur.

“Tejashwi Yadav will definitely lose Raghopur, just like his ally Rahul Gandhi, who in 2019 won Wayanad but lost Amethi,” Kishor said.

Amid the political churn, there is also speculation that Tejashwi Yadav may contest from an additional seat, possibly Phulparas in Madhubani district, a constituency that in 1977 elected Karpoori Thakur, who later became Bihar’s Chief Minister.

The Bihar assembly election will be held in two phases, on November 6 and 11, with counting on November 14.