Patna, March 19, 2025 - The Jan Suraaj Party, led by President Prashant Kishor, on Wednesday announced its candidates for the Patna University Student Union (PUSU) elections. The party has put forth Divesh Dinu for the President position, Mohammad Danish Wasim for Vice-President, Ritambana Roy as General Secretary, Anu Kumari for Joint Secretary, and Brijesh Kumar as Treasurer.
During the announcement, Kishor took the opportunity to heavily criticize Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as well as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He stated, "JDU couldn’t even find candidates for student union elections," pointing towards a perceived ineptitude of the current ruling alliance. He dubbed the decline in academic standards and others' well-being at Patna University as a direct result of the Kumar government's failures.
Kishor reflected on the past glory of Patna University, asserting that “as many as 15-20 years ago, Patna University produced direct IAS and IPS recruits, but today, its academic level has collapsed.” This stark comparison underlined the deteriorating state of education and the university's prestige in recent years.
Additionally, Kishor took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to reject the call for Patna University to achieve Central University status. "PM Narendra Modi rejected the demand to make Patna University a Central University, claiming he wanted to make it an international university," Kishor stated. He went on to say, “However, neither happened, and whatever was left has been ruined.”
Integral to his arguments were allegations that the focus on political maneuvering and infrastructural projects under Nitish Kumar had overshadowed vital education reforms. Kishor lamented, “The dignity of Patna University has been destroyed under the garb of infrastructure development, Metro, and double-decker projects. Can you imagine Delhi University being demolished to build a Metro? But here in Bihar, the entire Science Department of Patna University has been demolished for a Metro project. This is only possible in Bihar, and for this, I hold Nitish Kumar and the BJP responsible.”
As the Jan Suraaj Party ramps up its involvement in student politics with these candidate announcements, the PUSU elections are scheduled to take place on March 29, 2025, with nominations having begun on March 10. The election results will be declared on March 30. This intensifying political landscape at Patna University indicates a significant engagement from student-led parties, with Kishor aiming to expand his influence further.
Kishor's pointed critiques may resonate with a student body that has felt disillusioned as they face economic and educational challenges. As the election date approaches, questions linger over how effectively Kishor's party can mobilize support against the entrenched JDU-BJP coalition.
