Poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor, founder of the Jan Suraaj Party, has announced that he will not contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, choosing instead to focus on strengthening the party’s organisational framework. The elections are scheduled for November 6 and 11, with results declared on November 14.
Kishor’s decision was confirmed after Jan Suraaj announced Chanchal Singh as its candidate from the Raghopur Assembly constituency, a stronghold of the RJD and represented by Tejashwi Yadav. In its first candidate list, the party had also named Ritesh Ranjan (Pandey) from Kishor’s home constituency, Kargahar.
“Jan Suraaj decided I should concentrate on organisational work and not contest,” Kishor told PTI, emphasizing the importance of a strategic campaign over individual candidacy.
Kishor’s Election Predictions
Setting ambitious targets for his party, Kishor stated that anything below 150 seats would be considered a defeat for Jan Suraaj. He also predicted a major setback for the ruling NDA, suggesting that the Nitish Kumar-led JDU is likely to win fewer than 25 seats, adding that Nitish Kumar will not return as Chief Minister.
Kishor cited internal challenges faced by the NDA and the INDIA bloc, including:
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The last assembly polls where Chirag Paswan’s late revolt disrupted JDU’s seat tally.
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Ongoing disagreements between RJD and Congress, creating uncertainty about coalition dynamics.
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Questions about the continued support of Mukesh Sahani’s Vikassheel Insaan Party within the opposition alliance.
“You do not need to be a psephologist to understand the challenges facing JD(U). Their internal issues and factionalism have significantly weakened their prospects,” Kishor remarked.
Bihar Poll Details
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Assembly Strength: 243 seats
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Polling Dates: November 6 and 11, 2025
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Result Date: November 14, 2025
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Key Constituencies: Raghopur, Kargahar
Kishor’s strategic decision allows him to campaign across multiple constituencies, leveraging his profile as the party’s most prominent face while avoiding being tied down to a single seat.
