Tue Jan 07 02:53:00 IST 2025: **Patna Politician Prashant Kishor Arrested, Released, and Vows to Continue Hunger Strike**

PATNA, Bihar, January 7, 2025 – Jan Suraaj Party chief and political strategist Prashant Kishor was arrested early Monday morning while on an indefinite hunger strike in Patna. Kishor’s protest was in support of Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) aspirants demanding a re-examination of the 70th Integrated Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) preliminary test, citing alleged paper leaks at one exam center.

Kishor, who began his fast-unto-death under Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at Gandhi Maidan on January 2nd, was initially granted conditional bail but refused to accept it, opting for a brief jail stay. He was later released on unconditional bail and announced his intention to continue his hunger strike, with the new location to be revealed Tuesday.

The BPSC conducted a re-examination for the affected candidates at the Bapu Pariksha Center on January 4th, after which the district administration filed two FIRs against Kishor and others for protesting in a restricted area. A video circulating on social media shows Kishor being allegedly slapped by a police officer during his arrest.

While Kishor’s actions have been interpreted as a political maneuver ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections in October-November 2025, the allegations of paper leaks remain contested. While some aspirants reported irregularities at one exam center, others stated the exam was conducted fairly. Opposition leaders, including Tejashwi Yadav and Pappu Yadav, also voiced support for the protesting aspirants, though not to the extent of Kishor’s hunger strike.

Despite the events in Patna, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar continued his ongoing “Pragati Yatra,” announcing new welfare schemes. Kishor’s political strategy, even after his party’s recent electoral setbacks in the by-elections, remains focused on capturing public attention in the upcoming election.

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