Kishor announces his candidacy and predicts a significant shift in Bihar’s political landscape.
Prashant Kishor, founder of the Jan Suraaj Party and a former political strategist, announced on Monday his intention to contest in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. This declaration was reported by PTI, marking a significant step in his political journey. Kishor indicated that his party plans to unveil its list of candidates for the Assembly polls on October 9, hinting at unexpected selections within the lineup. He confirmed that his own name would be included in this list, although he refrained from revealing the specific constituency from which he will run.
The Election Commission has scheduled the Bihar Assembly elections to be conducted in two phases, with voting set for November 6 and November 11, and the counting of votes slated for November 14. Kishor expressed confidence that the Jan Suraaj Party would attract the support of 28% of voters who did not align with either the National Democratic Alliance or the Opposition INDIA bloc in the previous election cycle. This assertion underscores his belief in a potential shift in voter allegiance in the upcoming polls.
Furthermore, Kishor made a bold prediction regarding the political future of current Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, stating that he would not hold the chief ministerial position after the elections. He asserted, “I am saying it with full confidence that this will be the last election of Nitish Kumar,” suggesting a significant change in Bihar’s political dynamics.
Kishor officially launched the Jan Suraaj Party in Patna in October 2024, articulating his vision of creating a united alternative political force for the citizens of Bihar. His past experience as a political consultant is notable; he played a key role in the campaign that led the Bharatiya Janata Party to achieve an absolute majority in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Additionally, his political consultancy firm, the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), was instrumental in guiding several parties to electoral victories, including the Janata Dal (United) in the 2015 Bihar Assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal in 2021, the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi during the 2020 Assembly elections, and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu in the same year.
As the Bihar Assembly elections draw nearer, Kishor’s announcements and predictions are likely to generate considerable interest and discussion among political observers and voters alike. The upcoming elections could not only reshape the state’s political landscape but also test the viability of Kishor’s new political venture.
