Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) is emerging as a possible “vote-splitter” in Bihar’s upcoming Assembly polls. Moving away from caste and religious politics, Kishor has positioned his party around education, employment, and development. His appeal seems to be resonating with middle-class and educated voters who seek long-term progress over short-term freebies.
Development, education, and jobs: PK's core pitch
Having once been India’s most sought-after political strategist, Prashant Kishor is now testing his own formula on the ground. After years of touring Bihar’s districts, gathering field reports, and shaping campaign strategies for others, Kishor is finally contesting through his own platform — Jan Suraaj Party.
JSP has fielded candidates in all 243 Assembly constituencies of Bihar — a first for any new regional outfit. From day one, Kishor has maintained a single message: “Caste or ideology doesn’t matter — this election is about Bihar’s development.”
His focus is on employment and education. As Kishor points out, thousands of Biharis are forced to migrate to other states for low-paying jobs of ₹10,000–₹12,000 a month. His mission is to reverse that trend by creating jobs within Bihar through better education and local opportunities.
He argues that for too long, politics in the state has revolved around caste equations, temple issues, and freebies. “People have voted in the name of religion, caste, and charity schemes. But what did they gain?” he recently asked in an interview. His appeal is pragmatic: invest in your children’s future, not in populist promises.
Political analysts note that Kishor’s ability to articulate logical, reform-oriented assurances, rather than emotional or populist promises, sets him apart. Many of JSP’s candidates are professionals, doctors, teachers, and professors, reflecting the party’s focus on credibility and intellect. His target audience: the middle and upper-middle class, who care more about education and employment than welfare doles.
The vote split factor
While few expect JSP to form the next government, analysts believe Kishor’s party could play spoiler across several constituencies. Surveys by JVC suggest that JSP may win only 1–2 seats, but could influence results in dozens more.
Even a 10% vote share in the Seemanchal belt, districts like Araria, Purnea, Kishanganj, and Katihar, could unsettle both the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan. Kishor’s rallies in these Muslim-dominated regions have drawn impressive crowds, particularly among younger voters.
Kishanganj businessman Abu Zafar observed, “People, especially the youth, are drawn to PK’s message. For the first time, someone is talking to us about quality education, jobs, and real development, not religion.”
However, some local observers remain cautious. Independent candidate Parvez Alam noted that in rural areas, traditional loyalties still matter. “If JSP even gets 10% of the urban vote, the INDIA bloc could lose several seats, which would indirectly benefit the NDA,” he said.
Meanwhile, JVC’s survey projects 120–140 seats for the NDA, 93–112 for the Mahagathbandhan, and a few for JSP. Yet the vote-splitting impact of Kishor’s party could make a significant difference to both sides.
Kishor has also sparked debate by proposing to legalise alcohol sales to boost Bihar’s excise revenue: A move he says could strengthen the state’s economy.
His argument: “The government is looting people through corruption and giving that money back as freebies before elections. That’s not governance.”
Analysts say this straightforward reasoning, reminiscent of how Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP once captured Delhi’s imagination, is helping Kishor connect with Gen Z voters looking for honesty and realism in politics.
Will Gen Z’s ballots actually land in Kishor’s box? The EVMs will tell the story soon.
Some key points to note ahead of the Bihar Polls:
1. Jan Suraaj Party is the only outfit fielding candidates in all 243 Bihar constituencies.
2. Surveys predict 1–2 seats for JSP but suggest its vote-splitting role could affect major blocs.
3. Even 10% votes in Seemanchal could alter the results for NDA and Mahagathbandhan.
4. Kishor’s focus: education, jobs, and logical development, not caste or freebies.
5. His rational tone and professional candidates echo the early appeal of AAP in Delhi.
