Gaya (Bihar) [India], June 30 (ANI): As the political heat intensifies in Bihar ahead of the forthcoming Assembly polls, BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal claimed on Monday that 80% of people associated with Jan Suraaj Party are 'criminals'. Hitting back, Prashant Kishor questioned his intent, asking why they are not arresting these people despite being in power in both Bihar and the Centre.

BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal said, 'Prashant Kishor doesn't care about people. A person who killed a Dalit community is holding a board in Bettiah claiming to be a candidate of Prashant Kishor's Bettiah Legislative Assembly. 80% of his associates are criminals... You can't expect a good party from such individuals.'

Replying to this, Jan Suraaj Chief Prashant Kishor asked the ruling BJP and NDA government to nab those 'criminals'.

'His government is currently ruling Bihar, and the BJP-NDA has the government in Delhi. So why have they let all criminals free? They are putting on their face by claiming that all the criminals in Bihar are connected to Jan Suraaj. If that is the case, then what are you doing? Catch those criminals and put them in jail. Are you taking money from them so that they can stay in Jan Suraaj?' Kishor said.

Bihar 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.

While the NDA, comprising the BJP, JD(U), and LJP, will once again seek to continue its stint in Bihar, the INDIA bloc, comprising the RJD, Congress, and left parties, will aim to unseat Nitish Kumar.

In the current Bihar Assembly, comprising 243 members, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) consists of 131 members, with the BJP having 80 MLAs, JD(U) having 45, HAM(S) having 4, and the support of 2 Independent Candidates.

The Opposition's INDIA Bloc comprises 111 members, with the RJD leading with 77 MLAs, followed by the Congress with 19, the CPI(ML) with 11, the CPI(M) with 2, and the CPI with 2. (ANI)