PATNA, Oct. 22 -- Poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor on Tuesday alleged that three candidates of his Jan Suraaj Party in the Bihar elections withdrew their nominations under "pressure" from the BJP. He hit out at the NDA and the BJP for starting a new trend of "hijacking and intimidating candidates to pull out of the race". Talking to media persons, Kishor said that the JSP would not be cowed down by such pressure and intimidating tactics of the NDA, but people should know (he displayed some pictures) why Union home minister Amit Shah and union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan were seen with his official party candidates and in what circumstances they had to withdraw. "Earlier, there was a common notion that whoever wins the election, BJP will form the government. The horse trading practice is not hidden from anyone as to how MLAs are whisked away to resorts and hotels. But now, top BJP leadership is involved in holding people's choice candidates of JSP with no past baggage and clean image hostage. What can a non-political person trying to usher in change do if he or she has to face home minister out of the blue and put under intense pressure to pull back," he added. Kishor said that the problem with the JSP was primarily because it was questioning the status quo with a new alternative of cleaner, passionate candidates with people's support. "Both NDA and INDIA bloc are not afraid of each other, as they enjoy playing with lack of options to cater to each other. They are afraid of JSP, as they fear clean, good candidates. JSP has over 95% candidates with clean image and from its own cadres," he added, urging the Election Commission to check the dangerous trend. "If the candidates are not safe, how can the voters be expected to vote without fear and temptation. Three of our candidates have withdrawn suddenly after starting campaign due to apparent pressure, coercion and intimidation directly or through family and friends in Danapur (Akhilesh Kumar), Brahmapur (Satya Prakash Tiwari) and Gopalganj (Shashi Shekhar Sinha), but 240 remain to fight it out to end the corrupt regime," he added. He said that there was also a ploy to prevent Drig Narain Prasad, the only Tharu community candidate of JSP fielded from the general seat of Valmikinagar, from contesting. "He was a school teacher and resigned two years ago. His resignation was also accepted by the block education officer, but now that he has been declared a candidate it is being said that his resignation has not been accepted by the district education officer. We are looking into it," he added. Kishor said the party would formally write to the EC regarding the dangerous developments. "In Danapur, incarcerated Reet Lal Yadav of the RJD is in fray, while in Brahmapur Bahubali Hulas Pandey of the LJP is contesting. There were rumours that Reet Lal Yadav's goons had abducted JSP candidate after he left with symbol to file nomination, but he was later seen with the Home Minister and Education Minister. The EC should see it before it loses all credibility in the eyes of the people, who have an onerous task of showing their might this time with their votes to back good, clean candidates," he added. He said that the NDA and the Opposition enjoyed the status quo for three and half decades, keeping the Bihar people to ransom and treating them as bonded labourers in the absence of any third choice, but now they were afraid of JSP's emergence as a spoiler of their game plan. "Patna Sahib candidate and mathematician KC Sinha is also under pressure, but he has held his ground and I am thankful to him. Out of 243 seats, some candidates may crack under pressure, but JSP is a family of 1.5-crore," he added. Kishor's outburst came a day after senior BJP leader and former union minister RK Singh urged the people not to vote for anyone with a criminal background or corrupt candidates "even if they belong to your caste and 'If you want a bright future of Bihar and your children". aa"BJP candidate from Tarapur is Deputy chief minister Samrat Choudhary, who has been accused by Kishor of evading a murder charge by then claiming to be a juvenile, JD-U candidate Mokama Anant Singh and his rival Bahubali Surajbhan Singh's wife, Nawada BJP candidate and wife of Rajballabh Yadav, late Md Shahabuddin's son Osama from Siwan and Jagdishpur JD-U candidate Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha," he added....