Patna: In a major development ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially allotted the “school bag” as the election symbol for Jan Suraaj Party, the political outfit launched by Prashant Kishor. With this, all 243 candidates of the party will contest under a single, unified symbol — a key step in building party identity and public recognition.
The party leadership expressed satisfaction with the ECI’s decision, describing the symbol as a “powerful metaphor for reform, learning, and social upliftment” — aligning perfectly with the Jan Suraaj Party’s core mission of structured policy-making, education-driven development, and inclusive governance.
A Journey from Strategy to Politics
This milestone comes eight months after Prashant Kishor formally launched the Jan Suraaj Party on October 2, 2024, at Veterinary College Ground in Patna — a date symbolically chosen as Gandhi Jayanti. The event was held exactly two years after Kishor began his 3,000-km-long ‘Jan Suraaj Padayatra’ from Champaran, the birthplace of Gandhi’s first Satyagraha, with the aim of mobilising the people of Bihar for a “new political alternative.”
The party, built on grassroots engagement, aims to tackle Bihar’s long-standing challenges of poverty, education, and governance failure, and seeks to involve citizens in policy decisions from the ground up.
Leadership and Organisation
In May 2025, Kishor announced that former BJP MP Uday Singh was unanimously elected as the first National President of the party. The appointment was made by a selection committee set up for the purpose. Kishor, stepping back from organisational duties, declared that he would now focus solely on public outreach and movement-building.
Former Union Minister RCP Singh has also joined the leadership team, bringing further political experience to the party’s national ambitions.
The Symbol Selection Process
Under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, newly registered parties are classified as unrecognised and must pick from a list of available free symbols. The “school bag” was chosen through a priority-based application and was allotted to Jan Suraaj on a first-come-first-served basis, subject to approval and availability.
Should the party meet electoral performance criteria — such as vote share or seat wins — it may be recognised in the future as a state or national party, allowing it to reserve this symbol permanently.
Significance for Bihar Politics
With elections approaching and major national parties gearing up for battle, the entry of the Jan Suraaj Party with a clear symbol, a broad vision, and experienced leadership has added a new dynamic to Bihar’s political landscape. For many, the school bag symbol reflects hope for future generations, focus on education, and a break from traditional caste-based politics.
