Prashant Kishor’s Retreat: Bravado Without Battle
By stepping back from Raghopur, the Jan Suraaj chief has left Bihar’s voters wondering — what was all the noise for?
By Harshita Rai
In Bihar’s bustling political theatre, drama and destiny often walk hand in hand. But this time, the spotlight dimmed before the first act even began. Prashant Kishor — the man who promised to challenge the old guard and rewrite Bihar’s story — has quietly exited the stage.
His decision not to contest from Raghopur, the stronghold of Tejashwi Yadav, has left many puzzled. For months, Kishor had positioned himself as the fearless challenger, the outsider ready to take on Bihar’s dynasts. Yet when the moment came to fight, he chose to watch from the sidelines.
It’s hard not to see this as a self-inflicted wound. Kishor built his image on bold talk — taking on corrupt leaders, mocking political families, and claiming to represent a new kind of politics. But his withdrawal feels less like strategy and more like surrender. He insists it was his party’s collective decision, but in a movement where he is the face, the financier, and the final voice, that explanation sounds unconvincing.
The Raghopur contest had all the ingredients of a political blockbuster — Kishor versus Tejashwi Yadav, with BJP’s Satish Kumar Yadav adding intrigue. Instead, what we got is a vacuum. The excitement he once generated has turned into quiet disappointment. His grand vision of “Jan Suraaj” — people’s good governance — now risks fading into yet another forgotten slogan.
Contrast this with Arvind Kejriwal in 2014. Kejriwal lost to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi, but his willingness to face the giant earned him respect. Kishor, by walking away, has lost not just a contest but an opportunity to prove his conviction.
It’s not just about one seat — it’s about the courage to stand by one’s words. Politics, like life, demands that one shows up even when defeat seems likely. Kishor’s retreat, intentional or not, sends the opposite message: that talk is easier than the test of the ballot.
For a man who once crafted victories for others, this moment feels oddly out of character. The master strategist who helped shape campaigns for Narendra Modi, Nitish Kumar, and Mamata Banerjee now seems uncertain about his own path.
Bihar’s voters have seen many political dramas, but this one ends not with applause — only with questions.
