The Election Commission of India Tuesday allotted the “school bag” as the common election symbol to Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party for the upcoming Bihar Legislative Assembly elections, scheduled for later this year.“Our entire focus is on education and employment, and that’s why the school bag is our election symbol,” said Kishor, welcoming the Election Commission’s decision. “During the 35 years of Lalu-Nitish rule, the school bag has been removed from the backs of the children of Bihar and a sack of labour has been tied on them”.Kishor added that Jan Suraaj believes education is the key to ending poverty, creating employment and curbing migration from Bihar. “Education is the biggest tool to eradicate poverty in Bihar,” he said, emphasising that the party’s symbol reflects its core priorities.Jan Suraaj, which was formally launched by Kishor in October 2024 after his two-year-long padayatra across Bihar, has announced plans to contest all 243 assembly seats, positioning itself as an alternative to established parties such as Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and Congress.The party has declared its intent to field candidates in every assembly constituency, including at least 40 women. The party has also ruled out any pre- or post-poll alliances, aiming to present itself as a distinct political alternative in Bihar’s traditionally polarized landscape.Alongside Jan Suraaj, the Election Commission has also allotted common symbols to seven other “registered but unrecognised parties” for the 2025 Bihar polls — Bhartiya Sarthak Party (scissors), Lohiya Janta Dal (bucket), Rashtriya Lok Morcha (gas cylinder), Jan Sahmati Party (lady purse), Vikassheel Insaan Party (boat with man and sail), Bhartiya Janata Samajsevi (flute), and Rashtriya Samajwadi Lok Adhikar Party (ring).According to the commission’s order, these symbols are valid only for the upcoming election and may be allotted as free symbols to independent candidates in constituencies where the respective parties do not field candidates.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Election Commission of IndiaPrashant Kishor