Prashant Kishor Explains Why RJD Cannot Return to Power as Long as 'Jungle Raj' Fear Persists in Bihar

Prashant Kishor has stated that RJD's comeback is impossible as long as the "jungle raj" issue persists.

Jan Suraaj Party leader Prashant Kishor recently spoke with NDTV following his party's disappointing performance in the Bihar Assembly elections. During an exclusive interview with NDTV Editor-in-Chief Rahul Kanwal on "Walk the Talk," Kishor admitted he struggled to sleep after the election results. Despite this setback, he affirmed his commitment to continuing his political efforts in Bihar.

Kishor emphasized that the RJD cannot make a political comeback while the perception of "jungle raj" remains associated with their governance.

"I had previously predicted that the RJD would win only 25-35 seats. This is because RJD's core strength is limited to the M-Y (Muslim-Yadav) vote bank. They cannot expand beyond this base. Their previous success of 75 seats was largely due to Chirag Paswan's influence. Examining several past elections shows this pattern. In 2015, they competed in a different alliance, and in 2020, Chirag Paswan was a significant factor. Setting these exceptions aside, since 2010, the RJD has consistently been restricted to between 25 and 35 seats in both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections."

When questioned about RJD's future prospects, Kishor stated, "As long as the fear of 'jungle raj' remains, as long as this label stays attached to their political identity, a comeback will remain challenging for them. As elections approach in Bihar, voters consistently express that regardless of how unsatisfactory the current government may be, they don't want a return to jungle raj."

The recent Bihar assembly elections saw the RJD-led opposition suffer a decisive defeat, with the NDA securing power by winning 202 seats in the 243-member assembly. Despite contesting 143 seats, the RJD managed to win only 25, while their Congress allies secured just six seats.

In a notable declaration, Kishor announced that he would abandon his political consultancy work to focus exclusively on Bihar politics.

"I had thought that if I achieved success in Bihar, I would explore opportunities elsewhere. However, since I haven't yet succeeded in Bihar, my entire focus will remain here. I won't pursue work outside Bihar or offer consultancy services anywhere. I will be completely devoted to Bihar. Just as I have been involved in Bihar politics for the past three and a half years, I will continue this commitment. I have made this decision and will not retreat from it. There is no question of withdrawing without achieving success in Bihar," he asserted.

Kishor also mentioned that he would seek public donations to finance his party's activities if necessary, but his commitment to Bihar politics would remain unwavering.

"If needed, we will request financial support from the public. We will solicit donations and engage in crowdfunding. This approach has been effective thus far and will continue to serve us in the future. If financial resources become limited, we will adjust our electoral strategy accordingly, but we will never abandon the people of Bihar," Kishor concluded.