How Prashant Kishor, Disruptor In Bihar Triangle, Is Redrawing Electoral Battle Lines – News18

Last Updated:January 07, 2025, 14:49 IST

By tying his personal actions to the larger narrative of political accountability, Kishor is trying to position himself as a champion of transparency and justice, appealing to voters who are wary of the old political guard

Prashant Kishor’s political-electoral strategy seems to be a calculated mix of grassroots mobilisation, some direct actions along with an emotional appeal, and having a high-pitched sub-regionalism. (PTI)

In the complex, caste-driven political landscape of Bihar, chief minister Nitish Kumar and RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav now seem to be maneuvering to maintain their political relevance. Amidst this, Prashant Kishor, with his Jan Suraaj Party, emerges as the potential political disruptor—not by securing seats or forming alliances, but by siphoning votes that could alter electoral outcomes.

Kishor’s current approach to the BPSC (Bihar Public Service Commission) scam has revealed a deeper, wisely calculated political strategy which goes beyond just reacting to the issue at hand. His decision to start a hunger strike until the demand for re-examination is met, and his willingness to court arrest — including his refusal to sign a bail bond to remain in jail — speaks volumes about his political acumen and his intent.

The BPSC protest move is not merely about protesting against the scam. Instead, it is more about positioning himself as the voice of the people, especially Bihar’s youth, and also against an alleged corrupt system in the state as it is to go to polls in the next nine to 10 months.

In the caste-based fractured society in the state, Kishor’s decision to take such a bold stance comes at a time when Bihar’s political landscape is readying for a major shift that may be seen in the next assembly polls.

This clearly indicates how Kishor is capitalising on the growing and pent-up discontent surrounding issues like corruption, governance, and mismanagement in Bihar, all of which may sway public opinion in the lead-up to the state elections. By tying his personal actions to the larger narrative of political accountability, Kishor is now trying to position himself as a champion of transparency and justice, appealing to voters who are wary of the old political guard.

Jan Suraaj and its sunlight moment

Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party, which that was floated with much pomp and show on Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday on October 2, 2024, fought its first-ever election next month as the state saw bypolls in four assembly constituencies. The party, which was still at a nascent stage, fought on all four seats that went to bypolls. It had a strong showing in the bypolls, where it secured over 23 per cent votes on Imamganj seat and more than 11 per cent in Belganj, further solidifying Kishor’s political standing.

For a first-time electoral outing, these results are quite impressive, signaling that Kishor’s message somewhat resonates with a significant portion of the electorate, despite the limited time and resources available to his party. This electoral success, combined with his latest protest actions, reflect that Kishor is not just looking to be a fleeting political figure, but is also preparing to be a key player in Bihar’s upcoming elections.

His political-electoral strategy seems to be a calculated mix of grassroots mobilisation, some direct actions along with an emotional appeal, and having a high-pitched sub-regionalism or commonly called sub-nationalism through his slogan ‘Jai Bihar’.

By taking such a visible stand against the BPSC scam, Kishor is not only addressing an issue that affects the common man and the unemployed but aspirational youth of Bihar, but also positioning himself as someone willing to fight for the people, even if it means taking a few personal risks. It is surely a message that aligns well with the electorate’s growing desire for change and reform in Bihar’s politics, especially as the state gears up for its next round of electoral battles.

The sharp edge of the Bihar triangle

Political experts feel that if Kishor continues with the momentum he created, he will be able to damage the voter base of both political stalwarts of Bihar — Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav. As both these politicians are now part of national alliances — NDA and INDIA bloc respectively — Kishor’s outreach may bring more harm to the RJD than it does to the JDU.

“Prashant Kishor has already done the frontal attack on JDU’s governance, exposing its failures in education policy and the BPSC scandal. However, he always attacked RJD more on several occasions. Now, he’s playing a selective game with the BJP, focusing on their vulnerabilities to further his political ambitions. It seems to be a mixture of strategy by targeting Bihar’s Muslim voters, EBC-OBC and upper-caste voters in different ways. In that pecking order, he may damage the vote bank of the RJD most, and JDU a bit less,” said Santosh Singh, a senior political analyst and author based out of Patna.

“By fielding Muslim candidates, Kishor is damaging RJD’s base while trying to attract the Muslim vote and shift the balance. This strategy will also slightly erode JDU’s support as his appeal somehow reaches the EBC-OBC voters as well, adding to the fractured political landscape. As and when he starts getting upper-caste votes, it will also affect the BJP. Overall, Kishor is now a potential disruptor in Bihar’s bipolar fight between Lalu and Nitish,” he added.