Patna (Bihar) [India], June 27 (ANI): Targetting Rashtriya Janata Dal and Janata Dal (United), Jan Suraaj Party party founder Prashant Kishor said that Bihar became a state of labourers under their governance.

'The only way to end poverty, illiteracy and unemployment in Bihar is education. The last 30-35 years of Lalu-Nitish rule have turned the entire Bihar into a labourers' state. The children here were forced to carry sacks on their backs. Jan Suraaj's ideology is that the children of Bihar will not carry sacks on their backs, but will carry school bags, study, get jobs, and live a good life,' Kishor said.

The Election Commission of India has allotted the 'school bag' as the common election symbol to Jan Suraaj for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

Welcoming the decision, Jan Suraaj Party party founder Prashant Kishor emphasised that education is the key to eradicating poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment in the state.

Earlier, in an interview with ANI, he said that despite PM Modi being in power at the Centre for 11 years, Bihar continues to suffer from poverty, hunger, and helplessness. He pointed out that major industries have been established in the state, forcing young people to migrate in search of work.

'We still face hunger, poverty, and helplessness. We ask this government--being in power for twenty years in the state and eleven years at the Centre, you name even one domain where Bihar ranks number one nationally?' he questioned.

He also alleged that the government's claims are based on manipulated d particularly in areas such as toilet construction and educational reforms.

In the current 243-member Bihar Assembly, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) holds 131 seats: the BJP (80), JD(U) (45), HAM(S) (4), and support from 2 independents. The Opposition India Bloc holds 111 seats, comprising RJD (77), Congress (19), CPI(ML) (11), CPI(M) (2), and CPI (2).

Jan Suraaj Party is set to contest in the upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections, which are expected later this year.

The elections are expected to be held later this year, in October or November; however, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has not announced an official date. (ANI)