Prashant Kishor Claims Jan Suraaj Successfully Shifted Bihar's Political Focus From Caste to Employment

Jan Suraaj Party chief Prashant Kishor has given his first interview following the Bihar electoral defeat. Speaking to NDTV on Wednesday, he claimed that despite the electoral setback, his party successfully shifted the state's political narrative from caste considerations to employment opportunities.

Addressing the election results, Kishor candidly acknowledged the significant disparity between campaign expectations and actual electoral performance. "There exists a substantial gap between our election campaign and the final results. The efforts we invested yielded virtually no electoral success," he admitted during the NDTV interview.

Nevertheless, Kishor highlighted one meaningful achievement: "We did succeed in transforming Bihar's political discourse from caste-focused debates to employment-centered conversations. Our campaign prioritized jobs and development. My vision was to bring about meaningful change in Bihar."

The recent Bihar Assembly elections produced results reminiscent of the NDA's substantial 2010 victory, albeit within a reconfigured political landscape. Bihar voters decisively supported the NDA coalition, awarding them 202 seats, while the Mahagathbandhan (MGB) secured only 35 seats. This outcome surprised both political alliances.

This election marked a significant milestone with the debut of the Jan Suraaj Party, established by Kishor, who transitioned from political strategist to politician. Though failing to secure any seats, the party captured 3.4% of total votes, establishing itself as a potential disruptive force in Bihar's political arena. While unable to win any constituencies, Jan Suraaj effectively split votes that might have gone to either major alliance.

Of the 238 constituencies contested by Jan Suraaj, the party finished second in one, third in 129, fourth in 73, fifth in 24, and between sixth and ninth position in 12 seats.

The party's impact affected both major political blocs. In 33 constituencies, Jan Suraaj's vote share exceeded the victory margin. Of these 33 seats, the NDA won 18 while the MGB secured 13.

During his campaign, Kishor had predicted that his party would attract voters from both coalitions, a forecast that the election results have now substantiated.