Jan Suraj founder and former election strategist Prashant Kishor (PK) broke his silence after his party faced a harsh defeat in the Bihar Assembly elections. He alleged the elections seemed 'rigged,' although he admitted lacking concrete evidence at the moment.
Results diverge from expectations
In a conversation with India Today TV Managing Editor Preeti Chaudhary, Kishor remarked that the loss appeared much larger than the ground realities suggested. During Jan Suraj's months-long journey, he witnessed considerable enthusiasm, support, and positive feedback from the public, which did not mirror the election outcomes.
'Invisible forces at play' - Prashant Kishor
PK observed election results that seemed illogical, with some entities gaining votes despite appearing unknown. He stated, 'Some people suggest tampering with EVMs, but I have no evidence. Yet, many elements don't add up. At a glance, something feels amiss, but it's still unclear.' He noted a mismatch between voting patterns and field reports, amplifying suspicion.
Major accusation of distributing money to women
Prashant Kishor leveled serious allegations against the NDA, stating they distributed INR 10,000 cash to thousands of women, continuing from the announcement until voting day. He claimed this figure was merely the 'first installment.'
Kishor argued, 'Women were told they would receive a total of INR 200,000; INR 10,000 upfront, with the rest conditional on voting for NDA and Nitish Kumar. I've never seen a government distribute money to women this way in Bihar or India.' According to PK, this was a critical factor influencing the election results.
Fear of 'jungle raj' return affected Jan Suraj negatively: PK
PK acknowledged voters believed Jan Suraj wasn't in a winning position by the final election phase. He said, 'People feared that if they voted for us and we lost, Lalu Prasad Yadav's jungle raj might return. This fear shifted votes away.' He believes this sentiment was decisive in many areas.
'The story isn't over'
When asked about political analysts beginning his political 'obituary,' PK responded, 'Those criticizing me now once applauded my victories. Criticism is their job, and I'm doing mine. If I succeed, those critics will clap again. This shows that my story isn't over; there's more to come.'
Jan Suraj fielded candidates in 238 out of 243 Bihar seats, winning none. The vote share stood at a mere 2–3 percent, with most candidates losing deposits. Prashant Kishor termed it a 'harsh defeat' but expressed determination that this is not the end.
