Prashant Kishor Draws Mahabharata Parallel After Jan Suraaj's Bihar Election Debut: "Righteous Will Ultimately Win"

Jan Suraaj Party chief Prashant Kishor

Jan Suraaj Party chief Prashant Kishor on Wednesday compared his party's disappointing performance in the Bihar Assembly elections to the Mahabharata, affirming that temporary setbacks would not diminish his determination to work for Bihar's transformation.

In his first interview following defeat in the recently concluded Bihar Assembly elections, Kishor told NDTV that his commitment to "improve Bihar" would persist despite electoral losses. He referenced the story of Abhimanyu from the Mahabharata to illustrate how the righteous may face initial defeat but ultimately prevail.

Read | Prashant Kishor's Imran Khan Example After His Party Scores A Duck In Bihar

"I frequently share a story in my speeches, the story of Abhimanyu's Chakravyuh in the Mahabharata," he explained to NDTV. "Abhimanyu was surrounded in the Chakravyuh and killed through deception. Despite Lord Krishna's presence, he was still killed. But the Mahabharata did not end there."

"While it's true that Abhimanyu was killed, it's equally true that ultimately the righteous side won. In the end, the Kauravas were defeated," Kishor stated.

In the Mahabharata epic, Abhimanyu, Arjuna's son, entered the intricate, multi-layered military formation known as the Chakravyuh. Though knowledgeable only about entering but not exiting it, he fought valiantly before being overwhelmed and killed by the Kauravas through unfair tactics. However, the war concluded with the Pandavas' victory, symbolizing the triumph of justice and truth.

Read | "Will Never Rely On Mafia To Win Polls": Prashant Kishor To NDTV After Bihar Rout

The Jan Suraaj chief employed this analogy to suggest that although his party underperformed in the 2025 Assembly election, he maintains confidence that their vision will eventually succeed. Reinforcing his point, he added, "So, we believe that what we are advocating is right."

The Bihar Assembly elections produced results reminiscent of the NDA's substantial victory in 2010, albeit with new political dynamics. Bihar's electorate chose the NDA again, granting the ruling alliance 202 seats, while the Mahagathbandhan (MGB) secured only 35. The outcome surprised both political blocs.

Read | Exclusive: "Nitish Kumar Not Mentally, Physically Fit": Prashant Kishor Doubles Down

This election marked a significant milestone as the Jan Suraaj Party, founded by political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor, contested for the first time. Despite failing to win any seats, the party garnered 3.4% of the total vote share, emerging as a potential disruptive force in Bihar politics. While Jan Suraaj didn't secure any constituencies, it functioned as a 'vote-cutter' for both alliances.

Among the 238 seats Jan Suraaj contested, it finished second in one constituency, third in 129, fourth in 73, fifth in 24, and between sixth and ninth position in 12 seats.

The party impacted both the NDA and MGB. In 33 constituencies, Jan Suraaj's vote share exceeded the margin of victory. Of these 33 seats, the NDA won 18 while the MGB secured 13.

During the campaign, Kishor predicted his party would draw votes from both blocs, a claim clearly validated by the election results.