Patna, October 19, 2025: As Bihar gears up for its high-stakes assembly elections in November, the political landscape is witnessing the entry of a new player that promises to shake up traditional voting patterns: the Jan Suraaj Party (JSP), led by the renowned strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor. While Kishor has built a formidable reputation as an electoral strategist for major parties in India, the 2025 Bihar elections mark his debut as a political actor aiming to directly influence governance and policy in his home state. Positioned as a disruptor in a crowded political field, the JSP promises transformative agendas ranging from education reforms and employment generation to overturning the state’s controversial liquor prohibition.

On a sweltering Thursday afternoon in Sonho, a small hamlet in Saran district, the JSP’s campaign machinery was in full motion. Four SUVs rolled through dusty lanes, carrying Rahul Kumar Singh, the JSP candidate for the Amnour assembly seat, along with his team of supporters. In his outreach to local voters, Singh highlighted the limitations of the state’s long-serving governments. “Lalu Prasad governed for 15 years, Nitish Kumar has been in power for 20 years, yet migration from Bihar hasn’t stopped. Educational standards remain low. Despite the laborious nature of our people, there are no factories. Young people are forced to leave their families to take low-wage jobs in Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Haryana,” Singh said, emphasizing the JSP’s commitment to education and employment initiatives for local youth.

Yet, enthusiasm for the JSP is far from universal. A few hundred meters away, Sanjay Shukla, a relative of Singh, expressed skepticism. “Women recently received ₹10,000 under the jeevika livelihood scheme. Roads are excellent as you can see, and there is safety and security,” he remarked, suggesting that not all residents view the JSP’s promises as essential improvements.

Across the thirty villages surveyed by reporters, however, residents were well aware of Kishor and his party’s campaign promises. Central to the JSP platform is the repeal of Bihar’s liquor prohibition within hours of assuming power, a policy that has sparked considerable debate. Other pledges include increasing the monthly pension for citizens aged 60 and above to ₹2,000, implementing relief packages linking migrant workers and farmers directly to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), and providing free schooling for children under 15.

The liquor ban repeal is by far the most discussed promise among voters. Many, particularly young adults and small business owners, view lifting the ban as a necessary measure to restore personal freedom and boost economic activity in the state. Vikas Kumar, a fruit seller at Station Road in Darbhanga, confirmed this sentiment, stating that local citizens widely desire the repeal of prohibition.

Further north, in Muzaffarpur, Dr. Amit Kumar Das, a Kayasth by caste and the JSP candidate for the Muzaffarpur seat, reflected on the state’s stagnation under traditional coalitions. Speaking from his hospital near Hathi Chowk, Das criticized the performance of both the Mahagathbandhan and NDA governments, highlighting Bihar’s persistent socio-economic challenges. “Neither coalition has done justice to Bihar. New experiments are the need of the hour. If I am the change, let me be the change. Caste and sectionalism should not dominate political discourse,” he said, signaling the JSP’s aim to shift the conversation toward development-centric governance.

Despite Kishor’s celebrity status and the party’s ambitious promises, gaining political traction remains a steep challenge. The JSP is perceived as a disruptor capable of splitting votes between the Mahagathbandhan and the NDA, but forming a government appears unlikely at this stage. Suresh Kumar, a political science student at Patna University, remarked, “He may cut votes from both coalitions and alter the political arithmetic, but forming a government would be very difficult.”

Dipankar Bhattacharya, general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation, echoed this view, noting that the JSP has gained momentum primarily among migrant workers from Bihar living in Delhi and other metros. “In Bihar itself, the party has not found the same traction. Prashant Kishor must have realized this reality during his months of statewide tours. His decision to stay out of the contest himself reflects a strategic understanding of these limitations,” Bhattacharya said.

The JSP is contesting all 243 assembly seats in Bihar, but Kishor has refrained from contesting personally, focusing instead on building a diverse candidate base. Candidates include former IAS and IPS officers, individuals from backward castes, Dalits, Muslims, and upper castes, reflecting Kishor’s intention to present a development-oriented, inclusive alternative to traditional caste-based politics. The party’s groundwork has been extensive, with Kishor personally undertaking a two-year padayatra across the state and establishing organizational structures from scratch.

Kishor’s use of social media reflects his strategic acumen. A pinned post on X highlights the plight of a girl seeking a proper school building, accompanied by a pointed message: “Listen to the agony of this little girl… If you continue blind devotion to leaders who politicize caste and religion, future generations of Bihar will never forgive you.” The post encapsulates the JSP’s narrative—shifting attention from identity politics toward tangible development outcomes.

Political analysts, however, caution against overestimating the party’s immediate impact. Pramod Kumar, a Muzaffarpur-based analyst, observed, “The JSP does not have a traditional vote base in any caste group. Every existing party in Bihar has entrenched constituencies, and Prashant Kishor is entering this space for the first time. Building political trust takes time, and the JSP faces a steep climb in this regard.”

Nevertheless, Kishor’s office in Patna sees a constant stream of visitors, reflecting significant interest in the party among first-time voters, young professionals, and urban residents. While this enthusiasm is notable, translating it into electoral victories across a state as complex as Bihar remains uncertain. The JSP’s challenge lies in converting symbolic momentum into tangible votes, navigating entrenched caste loyalties, and countering established political machines with decades-long histories.

The JSP’s campaign also highlights structural issues in Bihar’s politics: migration, youth unemployment, and uneven educational access. By foregrounding these issues, Kishor aims to redefine the political conversation and appeal to voters frustrated with traditional party narratives. Yet, with Bihar’s electoral landscape dominated by parties with strong vote banks and deep-rooted caste affiliations, the JSP’s path to power is fraught with obstacles.

In summary, the Jan Suraaj Party, under Prashant Kishor, has successfully positioned itself as a fresh voice in Bihar politics, emphasizing development, education, employment, and social reform over caste and religious identity. While the party is unlikely to form the government in the upcoming elections, it has the potential to disrupt traditional vote patterns, challenge the dominant coalitions, and establish itself as a significant player in Bihar’s evolving political landscape. Whether the JSP can sustain this momentum beyond the 2025 elections will depend on its ability to convert public interest into an organized, disciplined political base capable of navigating Bihar’s complex electoral realities.