In his first public address since the disappointing performance in the Bihar assembly elections, political strategist-turned-activist Prashant Kishor broke his silence on Tuesday. The founder of Jan Suraaj party reflected on the campaign's shortcomings while defending his commitment to issue-based politics.
Post-Election Reflections
Addressing journalists during his maiden post-election press conference, the 48-year-old leader acknowledged potential missteps in their electoral strategy. Despite generating significant social media buzz and public attention, his party failed to convert this visibility into actual votes during the recent Bihar polls.
"There might have been mistakes on our part, but we haven't committed any crime - not getting votes is not a crime," Kishor stated emphatically. "We did not do caste politics or indulge in Hindu-Muslim narratives."
The Clean Politics Stance
The noted political strategist, recognized for building political movements from scratch within India's complex electoral environment, emphasized his party's different approach. He drew a clear distinction between his methods and those of traditional political players in Bihar.
"We did not spread poison in society," Kishor asserted. "We did not commit the crime of buying votes from poor and innocent people. Those who have done that will have to face the consequences of their actions."
Message to Supporters
Speaking directly to his disappointed followers, Kishor employed a powerful Mahabharata analogy to convey hope for the future. His reference suggested that while they may have lost this particular battle, the larger political war remains unwon.
"Even though Abhimanyu was killed, that did not win them the Mahabharat - it was won by those on the just side," he reminded his supporters. "The victory will be ours."
The political strategist's comments mark his formal entry into the post-mortem analysis of an election that saw his much-publicized campaign fail to make significant electoral gains. His reflections highlight the ongoing challenge of translating social media momentum into electoral success within Bihar's competitive political landscape.
