Rs 100 crore fee? Prashant Kishor reveals his unheard of election advice fees

ET OnlineLast Updated: Nov 02, 2024, 02:05:00 PM IST

Synopsis

Prashant Kishor, chief of Jan Suraaj Party, revealed he charges over one hundred crore for election advice. This funds his political campaigns. During an election rally in Bihar, Kishor said his strategies are used by ten state governments. Jan Suraaj Party will contest all 243 seats in the 2025 Bihar assembly elections with 40 female candidates.

Prashant Kishor, chief of the Jan Suraaj Party, revealed that he has charged over Rs 100 crore for advising political leaders and their parties during his time as a poll strategist. Speaking at an election rally for upcoming by-elections in Bihar, Kishor explained how he finances his campaign.

He stated that his fee from advising one political party in an election is sufficient to fund his campaign for the next two years.

"Ten governments in different states are running on my strategies," Kishor said. "Do you think I won't have enough money to set up tents and canopies for my campaign? Do you think I’m that weak? In Bihar, no one has heard of fees like mine. If I advise someone in just one election, my fee is Rs 100 crore or even more. For the next two years, I can continue to fund my campaign with just one such election advice."

Jan Suraaj has nominated four candidates for the upcoming by-elections in Bihar. The candidates include Mohammad Amjad from Belaganj, Jitendra Paswan from Imamganj, Sushil Kumar Singh Kushwaha from Ramgarh, and Kiran Singh from Tarari.

Prashant Kishor had made claims of giving a chance to people with "clean image" in politics. However, in a contrast to the claim, three of his four candidates contesting by-polls in the state face serious criminal charges including kidnapping, attempt to murder, extortion, theft, and assault, reported TOI.

Kishor officially launched the Jan Suraaj Party on October 2 in Patna, transitioning from a grassroots campaign to a formal political party. He noted that the party had been active for two to three years and recently obtained approval from the Election Commission of India.

The party plans to contest all 243 seats in the Bihar assembly elections expected in October-November 2025. Kishor has also committed to gender representation, with 40 female candidates in the lineup as Jan Suraaj aims to challenge the state's political landscape.

(With ToI inputs)