Jan Suraaj’s poll debacle puts spotlight on political ‘startups’ that failed to become ‘unicorns’

There have been other parties that created a strong buzz but failed to succeed

- MPOST BUREAU

NEW DELHI: The debacle of Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj party in the Bihar Assembly elections has put the spotlight on the phenomenon of several such political ‘startups’ sprouting in the crowded political battleground but very few becoming “unicorns.

While the Jan Suraaj may be the latest to bite the dust, there have been other parties that created a strong buzz but failed to succeed at the hustings such as actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam, which drew a blank in the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls.

Going forward, all eyes are now on the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), founded last year by actor-turned-politician Vijay. The party has created a strong buzz and with several political ‘startups’ formed by movie stars doing well in the past in the South, there are high expectations from it in the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls next year.

According to the Election Commission, most of the Jan Suraaj candidates secured less than 10 per cent of the total votes polled and had their deposits forfeited