Patna, October 15, 2025 – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticized political strategist Prashant Kishor's decision not to contest the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, calling it a sign of "weakness". Kishor, who is the founder of the Jan Suraaj Party, announced earlier today that he would not be participating in the polls, a decision he claims was made in the best interest of his party.

The BJP's spokesperson, Niraj Kumar, stated that Kishor's "bubble burst even before the elections". Kumar suggested that Kishor's decision reflects an understanding of unfavorable ground realities. He further added that by announcing that he won't contest, Kishor has admitted defeat for himself and his party.

Echoing similar sentiments, other political parties in Bihar, including the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), have also criticized Kishor's move. RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwary said that Kishor has realized that he and his party will face a humiliating defeat in the upcoming assembly polls and that politics is not as easy as providing consultancy to political parties. Another JD(U) spokesperson, Neeraj Kumar, said Kishor's decision was a "humiliation" for his party workers, adding that Kishor has run away before the electoral battle.

In response to the criticism, Kishor stated that the decision not to contest was taken by the party's working committee so that he can use his time and energy in campaigning for his nominees and help them win. He has set a target of winning 150 seats in the Bihar Assembly elections and has released the names of his party's candidates. Kishor has also predicted a defeat for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and said that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is on its way out.

Kishor has also been critical of the NDA government, alleging rampant corruption. He asserted that if voted to power, his party will crack down on the "100 most corrupt politicians and bureaucrats" and have their ill-gotten wealth confiscated within the first month. He also criticized Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary's alleged involvement in a murder case.

The Bihar assembly elections are expected to be a closely contested affair, with the NDA, the RJD-led alliance, and the Jan Suraaj Party all vying for power. The outcome of the elections will have significant implications for the political landscape of Bihar and the country as a whole.