Political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor has accepted complete ownership of his Jan Suraaj Party’s humiliating debut in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, where the outfit failed to win a single seat despite contesting 238 of the 243 constituencies. In a candid press conference in Patna on Tuesday, Kishor admitted the “honest effort” fell flat, pinning the blame squarely on his shoulders for failing to earn public trust. “If the people did not show faith in us, that responsibility is entirely mine. I take 100% accountability for not winning the confidence of Bihar’s voters,” he declared, his voice steady but reflective.
The results marked a stark reality check for Kishor, once hailed as a mastermind behind victories for Narendra Modi in 2014 and Nitish Kumar in 2015. Jan Suraaj, launched in 2024 as a fresh alternative to Bihar’s entrenched politics, secured just 3.4% of the vote share—outpacing the combined tally of Left parties and AIMIM but nowhere near the 50+ seats Kishor had ambitiously targeted. Early leads in a handful of seats evaporated by mid-morning, reverting to exit poll predictions of a zero or near-zero haul. Party president Manoj Bharti echoed the disappointment, citing communication gaps and voter wariness toward newcomers in Bihar’s cutthroat arena. “We tried to bring new politics, but Bihar’s people need time,” Bharti noted.
A Day of Silence: Kishor’s Penance and Path Forward
In a poignant gesture of atonement, Kishor announced a “maun upvas” (vow of silence and fast) on November 20 at Gandhi Bhitiharwa Ashram, dedicating it to the “martyrs” of Bihar’s unfulfilled aspirations. He dismissed resignation calls with a wry smile: “From which post should I quit? I never promised to leave Bihar—I’ve already stepped away from consultancy.” Kishor reiterated his commitment, vowing to intensify grassroots work on core issues like education, employment, and corruption-free governance. “Our agenda will now shape every party’s manifesto,” he asserted, framing the loss as a learning curve rather than defeat.
The debacle has sparked debates on Kishor’s pivot from strategist to leader. Supporters hail his humility, while critics question the party’s organizational depth against NDA’s juggernaut (202 seats) and Mahagathbandhan’s 35. As Bihar gears up for post-poll stability, Jan Suraaj eyes 2029 with renewed resolve.
