Prashant Kishor, the leader of Jan Suraaj, has openly accepted accountability for his party’s disappointing outcome in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, where they secured no seats. He emphasized that despite a genuine commitment to merit-based governance, his party could not connect with the electorate. Acknowledging flaws in both strategy and communication, Kishor stressed the importance of regaining public trust. Prashant Kishor, the leader of Jan Suraaj, has openly accepted accountability for his party’s disappointing outcome in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, where they secured no seats. He emphasized that despite a genuine commitment to merit-based governance, his party could not connect with the electorate. Acknowledging flaws in both strategy and communication, Kishor stressed the importance of regaining public trust. NEW DELHI: Jan Suraaj supremo Prashant Kishor on Tuesday said he takes 100 per cent responsibility for his party’s poor performance in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. This was his first reaction after the poll verdict.Speaking from Patna, Kishor admitted: “We made an honest effort, but it was completely unsuccessful. There’s no harm in admitting this. Forget about systemic change; we couldn’t even bring about a change in power. But we certainly played some role in changing Bihar’s politics… There must have been some mistake in our efforts, in our thinking, in the way we explained that the public had not elected us. If the public did not show faith in us, then the responsibility for that is completely mine. I take that responsibility 100% on myself, that I could not win the faith of the people of Bihar.”The Jan Suraaj Party got 0 seats in the election, a stunning outcome for a new entrant once pitched as the “third force” in the bitterly contested battle between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which secured 202 seats and the Mahagathbandhan (MGB), which won 35.For years, Prashant Kishor was regarded as one of India’s most successful political strategists and was known as the man behind a string of high-profile electoral wins. But his most anticipated venture, Jan Suraaj, has turned into a spectacular failure. Launched after an extended “padyatra” in Bihar, the party fielded 236 candidates, drawing heavily on social-media outreach and promising a new brand of politics focused on meritocracy, youth migration, jobs and improved governance.Jan Suraaj’s campaign sought to appeal especially to first-time voters and the urban electorate. Many candidates were professionals, retired bureaucrats and educated individuals pitched as alternatives to the traditional caste- and coalition-driven parties of Bihar. Yet despite the outreach, the results were devastating. In 57 constituencies the party polled fewer votes than the NOTA (None of the Above) option.In Marhaura, the only seat where the party came second, its candidate Abhay Singh secured 58,190 votes but even that fell short of victory. In other notable seats such as Katihar, Samastipur and Darauli, the party only just edged past NOTA by a few hundred votes.In urban Patna-district seats such as Bankipur, Digha, Phulwari and Patna Sahib, Jan Suraaj emerged as a distant third option, indicating some resonance with anti-incumbency sentiment among urban voters, but failing to penetrate the major support bases of established parties. Media-in-charge of Jan Suraaj, Obaidur Rahman, acknowledged the party’s failure and said the leadership would analyse why vote percentages remained so low despite “positive feedback” from the masses, especially youth. He added: “Good people got tickets, but voters were not ready to accept them who had the will to bring a change.”The Bihar Assembly elections were conducted in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with the results declared on November 14.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosMecca–Medina Tragedy: 45 Killed as Azharuddin Rushes to Assist Telangana FamiliesED Cracks Down On ‘White-Collar Terror Module’, Conducts 25 Raids Linked To Al-Falah UniversityUN Rejects ICT Verdict on Sheikh Hasina’s Death Penalty, But Backs Justice For Bangladesh VictimsPM Modi Reveals Why NDA Swept Bihar, Says Emotional Mode And 24×7 Development Win Elections In IndiaCalm And Radical: Dr Umar’s Pre-Blast Video Exposes Educated New Face Of Terror Behind Delhi Attack”Justice at Last”: Ousted PM Sheikh Hasina Gets Death Penalty; Victims Welcome VerdictJaishankar, Russian FM Lavrov Hold Key Talks in Moscow Ahead of Putin’s India Visit ‘In 3 Weeks’India Doubles Down On Russian Oil Imports Despite U.S. Sanctions HeatBangladesh Seeks Hasina’s Return As India Notes ICT Tribunal Verdict, Calls For Peace And Stability’This Generation Can Bring Viksit Bharat Before 2047’: Army Chief Dwivedi’s Message To Gen Z123PhotostoriesHow to talk to teens so they actually listen12 best US family-friendly destinations for Christmas 2025Bobby Deol, Pratik Gandhi, to Mrunal Thakur: How ‘Scam 1992’, ‘Aashram’ and ‘Scoop’ transformed these actors’ careersBigg Boss 19: From Kunickaa Sadanand, Amaal Mallik to Gaurav Khanna; Educational qualifications of top 9 contestantsThe silent night-time disorder linked to diabetes, BP, and heart attacks: Why snoring may signal a silent, dangerous disorderTop 7 baby boy names inspired by Lord HanumanSubtle signs you didn’t realize indicate calcium deficiency (and it can be life-threatening)Sugar or salt: Which one hurts the heart more?How to use the 55×5 manifestation rule to attract what you desire quickly and accuratelyHow to reduce sugar in a child’s diet (and why)123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodaySheikh Hasina VerdictBihar Government FormationGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingDak Prescott FianceBomb Threat TodayCeeDee LambDenver Nuggets vs chicago bullsKike HernndezDetroit Tigers WifeAuston MatthewsGiannis AntetokounmpoWWE Survivor SeriesWho is Ella Hakkinen
NEW DELHI: Jan Suraaj supremo Prashant Kishor on Tuesday said he takes 100 per cent responsibility for his party’s poor performance in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. This was his first reaction after the poll verdict.Speaking from Patna, Kishor admitted: “We made an honest effort, but it was completely unsuccessful. There’s no harm in admitting this. Forget about systemic change; we couldn’t even bring about a change in power. But we certainly played some role in changing Bihar’s politics… There must have been some mistake in our efforts, in our thinking, in the way we explained that the public had not elected us. If the public did not show faith in us, then the responsibility for that is completely mine. I take that responsibility 100% on myself, that I could not win the faith of the people of Bihar.”The Jan Suraaj Party got 0 seats in the election, a stunning outcome for a new entrant once pitched as the “third force” in the bitterly contested battle between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which secured 202 seats and the Mahagathbandhan (MGB), which won 35.For years, Prashant Kishor was regarded as one of India’s most successful political strategists and was known as the man behind a string of high-profile electoral wins. But his most anticipated venture, Jan Suraaj, has turned into a spectacular failure. Launched after an extended “padyatra” in Bihar, the party fielded 236 candidates, drawing heavily on social-media outreach and promising a new brand of politics focused on meritocracy, youth migration, jobs and improved governance.Jan Suraaj’s campaign sought to appeal especially to first-time voters and the urban electorate. Many candidates were professionals, retired bureaucrats and educated individuals pitched as alternatives to the traditional caste- and coalition-driven parties of Bihar. Yet despite the outreach, the results were devastating. In 57 constituencies the party polled fewer votes than the NOTA (None of the Above) option.In Marhaura, the only seat where the party came second, its candidate Abhay Singh secured 58,190 votes but even that fell short of victory. In other notable seats such as Katihar, Samastipur and Darauli, the party only just edged past NOTA by a few hundred votes.In urban Patna-district seats such as Bankipur, Digha, Phulwari and Patna Sahib, Jan Suraaj emerged as a distant third option, indicating some resonance with anti-incumbency sentiment among urban voters, but failing to penetrate the major support bases of established parties. Media-in-charge of Jan Suraaj, Obaidur Rahman, acknowledged the party’s failure and said the leadership would analyse why vote percentages remained so low despite “positive feedback” from the masses, especially youth. He added: “Good people got tickets, but voters were not ready to accept them who had the will to bring a change.”The Bihar Assembly elections were conducted in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with the results declared on November 14.
