Prashant Kishor, the founder of Jan Suraj Party, launched a scathing attack against Mangal Pandey, the former Bihar BJP president and current state health minister, alleging collusion with the current state unit head, Dilip Jaiswal, for mutual benefit. Kishor asserted that BJP leaders in Bihar are more corrupt than Lalu Yadav.
Kishor claimed that the state health department had placed an order for ‘1,200 ambulances’ at a cost of approximately 28 lakh rupees, which was almost double the amount paid by states like Odisha and Uttar Pradesh.
He alleged, “Pandey showed his gratitude by granting deemed university status to a medical college in Kishanganj, in which Jaiswal has a significant stake. Jaiswal transferred 25 lakh rupees to Pandey’s father’s account on August 6, 2019, and that money was used to purchase a flat in the name of the then health minister’s wife. Jaiswal also signed as a witness in the documents for the flat purchased in Dwarka, Delhi.”
Kishor questioned, “If Pandey had borrowed this amount from Jaiswal, why didn’t he mention it in the unsecured loan category in his election affidavit for the 2020 assembly elections?”
Kishor stated, “BJP leaders in Bihar claim to be spotless, but in reality, they are more corrupt than RJD president Lalu Prasad, whom they like to target over the fodder scam cases and alleged involvement in railway scams like land for hotels and land for jobs.”
He stated that Pandey and Jaiswal must explain the transactions. Despite repeated attempts, neither Pandey nor Jaiswal was available for comment on the allegations made by Kishor. The Jan Suraj Party founder also referenced a recent court order from Rajasthan, where another BJP leader and Bihar minister, Jibesh Mishra, was found guilty of involvement in making fake medicines.
He mentioned that despite the opposition’s demand to be fired or asked to resign in light of the court order, the BJP leader remains in the Nitish Kumar cabinet.
He further stated, “I have had personal relations with them, yet a chief minister who lets boys get kicked by police officers wearing heavy boots is not worthy of any sympathy.”
Kishor also demanded action against those involved in the attack on a Bihari laborer in BJP-ruled Haryana. Kishor asked, “The laborer was brutally beaten by his employer in Haryana. His hands were cut off and he is being treated in a hospital in Ambala. Why has the Haryana Police not arrested the accused yet?”
