Patna, Bihar – As the Bihar political landscape heats up in anticipation of the 2025 assembly elections, Prashant Kishor, the political strategist-turned-politician, has taken a swipe at Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav. While refraining from directly contesting the election himself, Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) is set to contest all 243 seats, aiming to be a disrupter in the upcoming polls.
Kishor, without naming Tejashwi Yadav, alluded to the perceived sense of intimidation that some political figures attempt to create. " Humko dara denge? (Will they scare us?)," he stated, during a rally, suggesting that such tactics would not deter him or his party from challenging the established political order in Bihar. He has accused villagers of voting for the "wrong person out of caste loyalty".
The remarks come amidst swirling speculation about Kishor's own electoral plans. Despite earlier hints that he might challenge Tejashwi Yadav in his stronghold of Raghopur, Kishor has announced that he will not be contesting the elections. He stated the decision was made in the "greater good" of his party, allowing him to focus on organizational work across the state. Instead, the Jan Suraaj Party has fielded Chanchal Singh, a local businessman, from the Raghopur seat.
Raghopur, a Yadav-dominated constituency, has long been an RJD stronghold. Tejashwi Yadav is seeking a third consecutive term from the constituency. In 2010, Satish Kumar Yadav of the BJP defeated former CM Rabri Devi from the same seat.
Kishor's decision not to contest has been met with mixed reactions. While some see it as a strategic move to focus on party building, others have interpreted it as an admission of defeat. Leaders from the BJP, JD(U), and RJD have mocked Kishor's decision, with some suggesting that his "bubble has burst" before the elections. RJD's Mrityunjay Tiwary said that Kishor has “accepted defeat before the battle began,” and that “Kishor must understand that politics is not as easy as offering consultancy to others".
Despite the criticism, Kishor remains confident in his party's prospects. He has set an ambitious target for the Jan Suraaj Party, stating that anything less than 150 seats would be considered a defeat. He has predicted that his party will either win fewer than 10 seats or over 150. Kishor has positioned the upcoming Bihar elections as a three-way battle between the NDA, the Mahagathbandhan, and his JSP.
Meanwhile, the political landscape in Bihar remains fluid. Seat-sharing talks within both the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan have faced hurdles. Upendra Kushwaha, President of Rashtriya Lok Morcha, has expressed unhappiness over seat allocations within the NDA. Within the Mahagathbandhan, Mukesh Sahani's Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP) has agreed to contest 15 seats.
The Election Commission has announced that the Bihar Assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with results being declared on November 14. As the state gears up for the polls, all eyes will be on whether Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party can deliver on its promise to disrupt the existing political order and provide a viable alternative to the traditional players.
