In a significant post-election development, political strategist turned activist Prashant Kishor has clarified his much-discussed pre-poll statement about resigning from politics if the JD(U) won the Bihar elections. The founder of Jan Suraaj maintained that his original comment was specifically about the JD(U) crossing 25 seats, a position he continues to stand by.
The Clarification and Context
During his first press conference following the election results, Kishor addressed the controversy head-on. "I did not say I would resign if JD(U) wins the elections," he asserted, explaining that he has no formal political position from which to resign. The political strategist clarified that his original statement was conditional - he would only consider retiring from political activism if Nitish Kumar's JD(U) managed to win more than 25 seats in the assembly polls.
Kishor maintained that he stands firmly by this specific remark, emphasizing that his position remains unchanged despite the election outcome. This clarification comes after widespread media reports had interpreted his pre-election comments as a blanket promise to quit politics if the JD(U) secured victory in the state.
Allegations of Financial Influence
The Jan Suraaj founder made serious allegations about the JD(U)'s electoral performance, claiming that the party gained significant advantage through pre-poll financial transfers. Kishor specifically pointed to two financial measures that he believes influenced voters - the ₹10,000 direct transfer to beneficiaries and the promise of ₹2 lakh to approximately 1.5 crore women in the state.
"Without these financial incentives, the JD(U) would have been restricted to just 25 seats," Kishor claimed during the press conference held on November 18, 2025. He challenged the government to prove that these measures did not influence the election outcome, going so far as to state that he would retire from politics if proven wrong about his assessment.
Ongoing Concerns and Future Actions
Kishor also addressed his earlier warnings about four specific leaders, stating that his concerns about them remain completely unchanged. While he did not name these leaders explicitly, he issued a clear warning that if any of them are inducted as ministers, his organization Jan Suraaj would take the matter before both the public and the courts.
The political strategist turned activist indicated that he plans to continue his political work through the Jan Suraaj movement, despite the election results not going as he had predicted. His statements suggest that he intends to maintain his role as a political commentator and activist, focusing on what he perceives as irregularities in the electoral process.
This development marks another chapter in Kishor's evolving relationship with Bihar politics, where he has transitioned from being a political strategist to becoming an active participant in the state's political discourse through his Jan Suraaj initiative.
