Following a significant bypoll victory in Bankipur, political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) is preparing to expand its footprint beyond Bihar, with Delhi identified as its next strategic target. Kishor is scheduled to meet supporters in the national capital this Sunday, where a steering committee to manage the party's affairs in Delhi is expected to be announced.
JSP's Delhi Expansion Strategy
The Bankipur by-election, held after five-term MLA Nitin Nabin vacated the seat upon his elevation as BJP national president and election to the Rajya Sabha, marked a crucial win for the JSP. This success has emboldened the party to seek a strong foothold in Delhi, particularly among the city’s substantial Purvanchali population, who largely trace their roots to Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Sources indicate that many Purvanchali supporters of the JSP are anticipated to attend Sunday’s crucial meeting, which is slated to take place at either Lok Kala Manch or Janpath’s Western Court. A party insider expressed optimism, stating, “The people in Delhi are tired of the BJP and the AAP. Moreover, they have seen Kishor’s vision for Bihar and Bankipur. We are hopeful of doing well in the national capital.”
In parallel with these organizational efforts, the Jan Suraaj Party is actively finalizing a location for its Delhi office, with several sites already shortlisted. Lease and rent-related formalities are reportedly the only remaining steps before a permanent base is secured.
Steering Committee to Lead Delhi Unit
The formation of the proposed steering committee is seen as the foundational step towards establishing a comprehensive Delhi unit for the JSP. Key individuals expected to be part of this panel include:
- Advocate Tathagath Harshwardhan, son of former Buxar MP K.K. Tiwari.
- Professor Shantanu Kumar of Deshbandhu College, Delhi University.
- J.P. Singh, a former Additional Director General of Police of Himachal Pradesh.
- Kunwar Chandresh, head of the Bihar unit’s intellectual cell.
- Advocate Abu Affan Farooquee, chief of the Bihar unit’s minority wing.
- Priyanka Singh from the party’s Bihar Mahila wing.
- Businessman Ajay Singh.
- Former ONGC director Badi Ud Doja, a prominent figure from Seemanchal.
This committee will be responsible for structuring the party’s organization and appointing office-bearers across Delhi.
Eyeing Future Delhi Elections
Professor Shantanu Kumar confirmed the JSP's ambitious electoral plans for the capital. He stated, “Despite not having a party organisation in place in Delhi, we have been reaching out to people taking Kishor’s message and vision to them. The response has been positive.” The JSP intends to contest all upcoming elections in Delhi, including the 2027 Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) polls, the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, and the 2030 Assembly polls.
Kumar emphasized the party’s inclusive approach, asserting, “Ours is an inclusive party, as people have seen in Bihar. We have no special focus on any particular community and will take along people from all economic and social strata of society, including Purvanchalis, which constitute around 25% of the electorate.”
The party aims to distinguish itself by offering "out-of-the-box solutions" to persistent urban challenges such as air pollution and the cleaning of the Yamuna River. Kumar noted that while mechanisms exist, their effectiveness is often limited, and the JSP would strive for innovative remedies.
The Purvanchali community, hailing from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, is a significant electoral force, particularly in 15 to 20 Assembly seats concentrated in Delhi’s northeast, east, and southeast regions. In the 2025 Delhi elections, the BJP secured 48 out of 70 seats, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won 22. The BJP also swept all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi in the 2024 general elections.