In a dramatic turn of events following the Bihar Assembly election results, political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor has made a stunning announcement that could potentially end his political career. The Jan Suraaj founder has declared he will quit politics entirely if Chief Minister Nitish Kumar successfully delivers on his promise of transferring Rs 2 lakh to 1.5 crore women across Bihar.
Taking Responsibility for Electoral Defeat
During his first media interaction since the election results were declared, Prashant Kishor displayed remarkable accountability for his party's poor performance. The newly formed Jan Suraaj party failed to secure a single seat despite contesting on 238 out of 243 constituencies, marking a significant setback for the political newcomer.
Kishor's statement comes as a bold political gamble, especially considering the overwhelming victory of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition led by Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal United. The NDA secured a massive 202 seats in the 243-member assembly, demonstrating strong public support for the incumbent government.
Campaign Predictions and Reality Check
During the heated election campaign, Kishor had made another significant prediction that ultimately proved incorrect. Sensing strong anti-incumbency sentiment, he had declared he would resign from politics if the JD(U) won more than 25 seats. This prediction dramatically underestimated the ruling coalition's popularity.
The political analyst turned politician had doubled down on his assessment after Bihar registered a record voter turnout of 64.66 percent in the first phase of elections on November 6. Kishor had interpreted this high participation as evidence of a strong desire for regime change, a reading that the final results thoroughly contradicted.
Political Landscape and Future Implications
The election results painted a clear picture of Bihar's political preferences. While the NDA dominated with 202 seats, the Mahagathbandhan alliance led by Tejashwi Yadav managed to secure only 35 seats, leaving Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj completely out of the political equation.
Kishor's latest statement shifts focus to Nitish Kumar's ambitious welfare promise. The Chief Minister's commitment to transfer Rs 2 lakh to approximately 1.5 crore women across the state now carries additional political significance, potentially determining the future of one of India's most prominent political strategists.
This development marks a crucial moment in Prashant Kishor's political journey, which began with his successful work as a strategist for various political parties before his direct entry into electoral politics. The outcome of Nitish Kumar's welfare scheme implementation could now decide whether Kishor returns to political consulting or continues his grassroots political work in Bihar.
