In a significant move, Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraj Party has approached the Supreme Court to request a postponement of the upcoming by-elections in Bihar, scheduled for November 13. The party, in its petition, has cited the ongoing Chhath Puja celebrations in Bihar as a primary reason for the request to shift the by-election date to November 20. The Supreme Court is expected to hear the plea on Monday, November 11.
The Jan Suraj Party’s petition argues that the Election Commission’s refusal to postpone the elections, despite the important folk festival of Chhath in Bihar, is unjust and a violation of the right to equality guaranteed under Article 14 of the Constitution. The party has pointed out that the Election Commission had previously advanced the election dates in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Kerala, citing religious events, and is seeking the same consideration for Bihar.
The by-elections are set to take place for four assembly seats in Bihar—Tarari, Ramgarh, Belaganj, and Imamganj. The Jan Suraj Party has already announced its candidates for these constituencies, with retired Lieutenant General SK Singh contesting from Tarari. The by-election was triggered following the election of several sitting MLAs to the Lok Sabha, including Surendra Prasad Yadav from Jehanabad and Manjhi’s election to the Gaya Lok Sabha seat.
The Election Commission’s records show that 50 candidates initially filed nominations for the four assembly seats, but six were rejected after scrutiny, and another six withdrew from the contest. Of these, the Belaganj constituency saw the most candidates—14 in total, including Vishwanath Kumar Singh of the RJD, son of Surendra Prasad Yadav. The primary contenders for the seat are RJD’s Raushan Manjhi, a former Zila Parishad member, and candidates from the NDA coalition.
The Jan Suraj Party’s plea has ignited political discussions in Bihar, with many questioning the timing and fairness of the by-election amid the significant cultural observance of Chhath Puja. As the Supreme Court prepares to hear the case, the outcome could have implications for the state’s electoral schedule and future political strategies.
