Patna: Poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor on Wednesday admitted that his decision not to contest the Bihar Assembly elections contributed to the Jan Suraaj Party’s (JSP) poor performance. Kishor, whose party failed to win a single seat in its electoral debut, reflected on the campaign and took responsibility for the unexpected outcome.

In an interview with NDTV, Kishor candidly addressed his decision to stay away from contesting the elections. “You can consider that a mistake,” he said, adding that he underestimated the party’s performance and did not anticipate securing only 4% of the vote share. “If I knew that I would lose, why would I put my resources, money, and credibility at stake? I would have easily used all these resources to become an MP or MLA. I never did my own survey; I played it blind,” he admitted.

JSP’s Electoral Setback

The Jan Suraaj Party, contesting nearly all 243 seats in Bihar, faced a major setback, marking a difficult debut for Kishor as a political leader. Despite a high-profile campaign and Kishor’s personal involvement, the party could not secure even a single seat, signaling the challenges of translating electoral strategy into votes in the state’s complex political landscape.

Acknowledging the setback, Kishor said he will take time to reflect on the loss and learn from the experience. “I will work twice as hard as you’ve seen me work over the past three years and put in all my energy. There’s no question of backing down. There’s no turning back until I fulfil my resolve to make Bihar better,” he said.

Vow of Silence and Reflection

As a symbolic act of reflection and accountability, Kishor announced that he would observe a one-day silent fast at Gandhi Bhitiharwa Ashram on November 20. He described the fast as a way to repent for his miscalculations and to recommit to his vision for Bihar. “We may have made mistakes, but we have not committed any crime,” Kishor said, emphasizing that his party conducted the campaign without spreading caste- or religion-based divisions.

Kishor also underscored that JSP refrained from unethical practices common in electoral politics, such as distributing money to influence voters. “We have not committed the crime of giving money to the poor, innocent people of Bihar and buying their votes,” he asserted.

Looking Ahead

Despite the electoral defeat, Kishor conveyed determination to continue working toward political and social reform in Bihar. His comments reflect both a candid acknowledgment of errors and a commitment to strengthening his party’s presence in the state in the future. The BJP and JD(U)’s decisive victory in the elections has set a high bar for opposition parties, including new entrants like JSP, highlighting the steep challenges that lie ahead.