Prashant Kishor: “I Take Full Responsibility for the Defeat”

Patna, Nov 2025 : Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Tuesday addressed the media for the first time since his party’s heavy defeat in the Bihar Assembly elections, candidly accepting responsibility for failing to win the trust of the electorate. Speaking at a press conference in Patna, Kishor said the results were a clear indication that Jan Suraaj had not succeeded in convincing people of its vision for change.

“We came forward with a dream and a vision to transform Bihar’s electoral narrative and create a viable political alternative. But we have completely failed in our efforts. I take full responsibility for the party’s disappointing performance,” he said.

Calling the defeat a moment for deep introspection, Kishor announced that he and several members of Jan Suraaj would observe a one-day fast at the Bhitiharwa Gandhi Ashram — the place where the movement had started, with a pledge to fight corruption and reshape Bihar’s political discourse. “This fast is our way of expressing repentance and reaffirming our commitment to the cause,” he added.

Kishor acknowledged that the loss was a major setback not only for him but also for the lakhs of Jan Suraaj workers who had campaigned tirelessly across the state. However, he insisted that the setback would not weaken their resolve to challenge what he called a “corrupt governance model” and to continue striving for an alternative built on integrity and transparent leadership.

Dismissing speculation that he might withdraw from public life after the defeat, Kishor made it clear that he remained firmly committed to both Bihar and politics. “I will neither leave Bihar nor quit politics. I stand by the promise we made to bring meaningful change to the state. As the saying goes, you are not defeated unless you quit the race,” he said, reiterating that the journey of Jan Suraaj would continue.

Kishor also congratulated the BJP and the NDA for securing strong public support and urged the newly formed Nitish Kumar government to deliver on its election promises. In particular, he reminded the government of its commitment to increase the financial assistance for 1.5 crore women — especially Jeevika Didis — from the current ₹10,000 to ₹2 lakh under employment-linked and welfare schemes. “Now is the time for the government to fulfil what it promised before the polls,” Kishor said.

He further accused the ruling alliance of using public funds to influence voters, alleging that the transfer of ₹10,000 into the accounts of 1.5 crore women just before the elections was one of the major factors behind Jan Suraaj’s poor performance. According to him, nearly ₹40,000 crore was diverted for this purpose.

Despite the intense publicity, hype, and social media engagement surrounding Jan Suraaj, Kishor’s young political outfit managed to secure only 3.34 per cent of the vote share in the fiercely contested election. The results, he admitted, were far from what the party had hoped, but he maintained that the movement’s mission remained unchanged.