Election strategist and the founder of the Jan Swaraj Party, Prashant Kishor, has come under the spotlight for the use of a ₹2 crore vanity van while fasting-unto-death protest in support of BPSC aspirants.
The vehicle, which is equipped with luxurious amenities, is parked a few 100 metres away from the protest site. Prashant Kishor has defended the use of the vanity van to relieve himself.
He said that if we went home to use the loo, then, journalists would accuse him of having food. Prashant Kishor said, “I am on a fast here. If I go home to relieve myself, then journalists will ask questions whether I went to have food or take a nap…”
“Some people said the vanity van is worth ₹2 crore and the rent for the same is ₹25 lakh per day… I want to convey this through mediapersons,” he added.
Patna, Bihar: Amid Prashant Kishor's hunger strike at Gandhi Maidan, his vanity van has become a subject of controversy pic.twitter.com/M0KWS3bnxV
— IANS (@ians_india) January 4, 2025
The election strategist demanded ₹25 lakhs per day in exchange for giving away the vanity van and an alternate space for reliving himself.
“Let this van be taken away and in return, give me ₹25 lakh per day and provide an alternate space that can be used as a washroom…Will you be able to question prime minister Narendra Modi or Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar about the amenities they enjoy?” he said.
Prashant Kishor began his ‘fast unto death’ at the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna on Thursday (2nd January). He had demanded the cancellation of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) exam which was conducted on 13th December last year.
The ‘election strategist’ had alleged irregularities in the Integrated Combined Competitive Examination (CCE). Some students also claimed that the question paper had been leaked on social media.
Prashant Kishor and his demands
Prashant Kishor had demanded the cancellation of the last exam and the conducting of fresh Integrated Combined Competitive Examination.
“My demands include cancellation of the exam and holding of fresh tests. I also seek action against corrupt officials who had allegedly put posts, to be filled by the exams, on sale,” he told the media before commencing his ‘fast unto death.’
The founder of the Jan Swaraj Party had also demanded a high-level investigation into the alleged paper leak.
Other demands included an allowance for unemployed youths between 18-35, re-examination, a white paper on the probe of paper leaks in competitive examinations in the past 10 years and action against officers for lathi-charging students.
Re-examination in Patna and continuation of protests
On Saturday (4th January), a re-test was conducted for a select group of 12000 students (who wrote the prelims exam at the Bapu Exam Centre) at 22 centres in Patna.
However, Prashant Kishor is holding steadfast to his demand for re-examination of all aspirants.
He stated, “The government has put itself in the dock by holding retest for a select group of examinees. What will happen to 4.5 lakh other examinees who have been demanding cancellation of the December 13 exam and order for a fresh one.”
The founder of the Jan Swaraj party called upon Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to meet a delegation of BPSC aspirants. In the meantime, the district administration has dubbed his fast-unto-death as ‘illegal.’
