Patna: Poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor has ended all speculation surrounding his electoral debut, announcing that he will not contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. Instead, he said, he will focus on strengthening his Jan Suraaj Party’s organisational base, even as he predicted a decisive defeat for the ruling NDA in the state.
“That I will not be contesting was a collective decision of Jan Suraaj,” Kishor told PTI, clarifying his stand after weeks of speculation. “The party decided I should concentrate on organisational work and not fight the polls myself.”
The announcement came soon after Jan Suraaj released its first list of candidates, confirming that Chanchal Singh will contest from Raghopur, the RJD bastion represented by Tejashwi Yadav. Earlier, Kishor had hinted that if he entered the fray, it would likely be from Raghopur or his home seat Kargahar. But with Ritesh Ranjan (Pandey) fielded from Kargahar, it became clear that Kishor would not contest.
Political observers view this as a strategic move. Contesting from one seat would have tied Kishor down to a single constituency, limiting his ability to campaign statewide for the fledgling Jan Suraaj, which is making its electoral debut this season. Kishor remains the party’s most recognisable face and chief strategist.
“Anything less than 150 seats for Jan Suraaj would be a defeat,” Kishor said, exuding confidence about his party’s prospects. The remark set an ambitious benchmark in Bihar’s complex political landscape, long dominated by the NDA and the RJD-Congress alliance.
Kishor, who once worked closely with Nitish Kumar and played a crucial role in several successful national campaigns, has now turned a sharp critic of his former mentor. He predicted a major setback for the NDA, declaring, “The NDA is definitely on its way out and Nitish Kumar will not return as Chief Minister.”
He further claimed that JD(U), Nitish Kumar’s party, is facing an unprecedented decline. “In the last Assembly polls, Chirag Paswan’s revolt cost the JD(U) dearly, bringing its tally down to just 43 seats. This time, the situation is even worse,” Kishor asserted.
According to him, the NDA’s troubles stem from both anti-incumbency and voter fatigue, compounded by internal discontent and a lack of new leadership. “You don’t need to be a psephologist to see what’s coming,” he remarked, hinting that the electorate is ready for change.
However, Kishor didn’t spare the INDIA bloc either. “The situation is no better there. The RJD and Congress are constantly at odds, and no one knows whether Mukesh Sahani’s VIP is still with them,” he said, referring to the Vikassheel Insaan Party, which has shifted alliances in recent years.
Political analysts believe Kishor’s decision not to contest may prove tactically sound. Staying out of the race allows him to project himself as a statewide leader rather than being confined to one seat. It also gives him time to consolidate Jan Suraaj’s network across Bihar’s 243 constituencies.
His ongoing Jan Suraaj Yatra, launched in 2022, has already covered multiple districts, aiming to connect directly with local issues and rural voters. The movement has positioned itself as a grassroots alternative to both the NDA and the INDIA bloc, focusing on governance, education, and employment.
For Kishor — who has advised top leaders including Narendra Modi, Nitish Kumar, Mamata Banerjee, and Jagan Mohan Reddy — this election represents a test of his political acumen beyond strategy. He now faces the challenge of transforming his campaign expertise into electoral results.
While critics argue that Jan Suraaj lacks the organisational strength to make a big impact in its debut election, supporters insist that the party’s ground-level mobilisation and Kishor’s credibility as a strategist could surprise traditional players.
As Bihar heads into a high-stakes political battle, Kishor’s bold predictions about the NDA’s downfall and his party’s ambitious target have added fresh energy to the campaign narrative. Whether his calculations translate into votes remains uncertain — but one thing is clear: Prashant Kishor has once again placed himself at the center of Bihar’s political storm.
