Political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor has set an ambitious target for his party Jan Suraaj in the Bihar state assembly elections, declaring he aims to win at least 150 seats as results await announcement on Friday.
The election maestro has staked his personal reputation on this goal, announcing that if his party fails to achieve this target, he will consider it a personal defeat. This bold declaration comes despite exit polls suggesting a much more modest outcome for his political venture.
Exit Polls Paint Different Picture
Most exit polls predict a challenging outcome for Jan Suraaj, forecasting between zero to two seats for Kishor's party. While analysts acknowledge the party might make some impact among youth and migrant voters, they conclude this influence is unlikely to translate into significant electoral gains.
The current scenario draws parallels to Kishor's political journey six years ago, when he served as JD(U) vice-president during the 2019 Jharkhand assembly elections.
Echoes of 2019 Jharkhand Elections
During the 2019 Jharkhand campaign, Kishor occupied the second position in the party hierarchy after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, effectively sidelining many experienced and senior leaders. This prominent role sparked speculation that Nitish was considering Kishor as his potential successor.
Kishor played a dual role in the Jharkhand elections, responsible for both formulating election strategy and establishing JD(U)'s presence in the neighboring state. Political analysts note that his stubborn attitude reportedly prevented an alliance between BJP and JD(U) from materializing in Jharkhand.
According to insiders, Kishor advised Kumar to contest more seats to strengthen the party's position in Jharkhand, ultimately leading to BJP and JD(U) parting ways in the state. Kishor began preparations four months in advance, focusing on 48 favorable seats identified for JD(U), while BJP contested separately on 79 seats.
Rise to Campaign Leadership
When JD(U) released its list of star campaigners for the Jharkhand election, Kishor's name appeared second only to Nitish Kumar, positioned ahead of senior leaders like Lalan Singh and R C P Singh. The dynamics shifted when Nitish, respecting alliance commitments with BJP in Bihar, announced he wouldn't campaign in Jharkhand.
This decision propelled Kishor into the role of JD(U)'s number one leader for the Jharkhand election campaign. Despite the significant responsibility placed on his shoulders, the party ultimately drew a blank, failing to win any seats in the assembly elections.
As Bihar awaits the election results on Friday, political observers watch closely to see whether Kishor can overcome the predictions and his past electoral record, or whether history will repeat itself in this new political chapter.
