Patna: Political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor is under scrutiny after his Jan Suraaj Party's (JSP) dismal performance in the recent Bihar Assembly elections and his apparent shift in stance regarding a pre-poll vow. Kishor had earlier declared he would retire from politics if Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) [JDU] secured more than 25 seats. With the JDU winning 85 seats and emerging as the second largest party in the state, Kishor's remark has resurfaced, leading to questions about his future in politics.
Addressing the media after the election results, Kishor clarified that his earlier remark was being misinterpreted. He stated that he does not hold any position, and therefore the question of resigning does not arise. "I never said I would leave Bihar. I said I would not do politics, and that stands. What I do is not politics; amplifying people's voices is not politics," Kishor said.
However, Kishor has now added a new condition to his potential retirement. He stated that he would quit politics if Nitish Kumar transfers the ₹2 lakh promised to 1.5 crore women in Bihar and proves he didn't win by buying votes. Kishor alleged that the NDA's victory was aided by an unprecedented scale of pre-poll outreach, where people were given ₹10,000 and promised a ₹2 lakh loan if the NDA returned to power.
In July 2025, Kishor stated in an interview that he would leave politics if the "arrow symbol" (JDU's election symbol) got more than 25 seats. Kishor's JSP contested in 238 seats in the Bihar election but failed to win a single constituency. The party only secured 3.44 percent of the vote share. In as many as 68 constituencies, it even received fewer votes than NOTA.
Kishor accepted full responsibility for his party's failure in the Bihar Assembly elections. He admitted that his team made an honest effort, but it was unsuccessful. Kishor also admitted shortcomings in the party's approach and communication with voters.
Despite the setback, Kishor expressed optimism about the future. He said he would work twice as hard and put in all his energy to fulfill his resolve to make Bihar better. As a form of atonement, Kishor will observe a day-long silent fast at the Gandhi Bhitiharwa Ashram on November 20th.
Kishor's political career has been marked by successful collaborations with various political parties, including the BJP, INC, AAP, YSRCP, DMK, and TMC. He gained prominence after helping Narendra Modi win the Gujarat Assembly Elections in 2012 and the BJP win the 2014 general election. In 2022, Kishor founded the Jan Suraaj Party.
