Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor has issued his first detailed response after his party failed to win any seats in the Bihar assembly elections. Speaking at a press conference in Patna, he said the setback reflected shortcomings in his own strategy and accepted complete responsibility for the outcome.
Kishor stated that the party’s performance showed his inability to earn voters’ trust. He said, “If the public did not show faith in us, then the responsibility is entirely mine. I take that responsibility 100%. I could not win the trust of the people of Bihar.”
“Completely Unsuccessful” but an “Honest Effort”
Kishor described the campaign as sincere but unsuccessful. He added, “Forget systemic change; we could not even bring a change in power.” However, he maintained that Jan Suraaj contributed in some way to shifting Bihar’s political conversations.
Reflecting on the defeat, he said, “There must have been some mistake in our efforts, in our thinking, and in how we explained our message. The public did not choose us.”
Will Observe a Day-Long Silent Fast
As a symbolic act of atonement, Kishor announced that he will undertake a silent fast on November 20 at the Gandhi Bhitiharwa Ashram. He said this gesture represents his responsibility to better communicate the party’s vision for an alternative political system.
Kishor emphasized that despite strategic errors, Jan Suraaj did not compromise on ethics. He said, “We have not spread caste-based divides. We have not played Hindu-Muslim politics. We have not bribed voters. We may have made mistakes, but we have not committed any crime.”
Says Mandate Is Clear: NDA Must Deliver
Kishor said the Bihar mandate must be respected and that the voters’ decision is clear. According to him, the responsibility to deliver now lies with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. “People have given their mandate to the NDA; now it is on them to fulfil their poll promises,” he said.
Jan Suraaj to Rebuild After Setback
Despite the disappointing results, Kishor said the party is determined to recover. “We have received a setback, but we will learn, correct our mistakes, and come back stronger. There is no going back for us.”
