NEW DELHI: Former poll strategist Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party has approached the Supreme Court challenging the conduct of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections and seeking fresh polls in the state.The plea is expected to be listed for hearing on Friday before a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi.In its petition, the Jan Suraaj Party has alleged that the Bihar government violated the Model Code of Conduct by transferring Rs 10,000 each to women beneficiaries under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana after the announcement of the election schedule.The scheme provides an initial grant of Rs 10,000 to women to help them start small businesses, with the stated aim of promoting self-employment and women’s economic empowerment in the state.The petition has sought directions to the Election Commission to exercise its powers under Article 324 of the Constitution, which vests it with superintendence, direction and control over the conduct of elections, and under Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, in connection with the direct transfer of funds to women voters in the state.The Jan Suraaj Party failed to win a single seat in the Bihar Assembly elections, a setback for the new political entrant that had positioned itself as a potential “third force” in the contest between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Mahagathbandhan (MGB). The NDA retained power with 202 seats, while the MGB secured 35 seats.Launched after an extended padyatra across Bihar, Jan Suraaj contested 236 constituencies, campaigning largely through social media and promising a new political approach centred on meritocracy, employment, curbing youth migration and improving governance. However, despite the high-profile campaign, the party lost its deposit in 236 of the 238 seats it contested.The results suggested limited conversion of online outreach into electoral support in a state where caste dynamics, local networks and established alliances continue to play a decisive role.The Bihar Assembly elections were held in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with the results announced on November 14.