Patna: After winning the Bankipur Assembly by election, Jan Suraaj founder and newly elected MLA Prashant Kishor has decided not to use his allotted government residence as his personal home.
He plans to convert Assembly residence number 182, a two storey duplex in Patna’s VIP MLA housing complex, into a public office for the people of Bankipur.
Kishor said the residence should function as a place where people can directly approach their elected representative with problems, complaints and suggestions. He added that the office would be accessible to the general public so that they do not have to run from pillar to post with their issues.
According to him, the initiative is intended to establish direct communication between the MLA and the constituency’s residents. People from Bankipur will be able to visit the residence to raise issues relating to local development, government services and other public concerns.
Employment is another major component of Kishor’s plans for Bankipur. He has announced a target of helping 10,000 youths from the constituency secure private sector jobs. A system is being developed at residence number 182 where educated unemployed youths can submit their resumes. A dedicated team will then work to connect candidates with suitable opportunities based on their qualifications and profiles.
The official residence is located in Patna’s VIP MLA housing complex. Cabinet minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ram Kripal Yadav has a residence next door. Kishor’s decision to use the government accommodation as a public facing office rather than a private residence has attracted considerable attention.
The move is also being viewed as an attempt to put Kishor’s political philosophy into practice. Rather than treating the government provided residence primarily as a personal facility, he wants it to function as an accessible point of contact between the MLA and constituents.
The effectiveness of residence number 182 as a public office will ultimately depend on whether it can translate this idea into tangible results—particularly in resolving residents’ grievances and connecting Bankipur’s youth with employment opportunities.
(IANS)
