The Unyielding Walk: Prashant Kishor, Blame, and Bihar's Political Odyssey

Well, it's not often you hear a political strategist—especially one with a track record like his—stand up and just say, 'It’s all on me.' But that’s precisely what Prashant Kishor, a name that's become synonymous with high-stakes election campaigns, did recently, squarely accepting 'all the blame' for the setbacks suffered in the 2020 Bihar assembly elections. It's a stark contrast to the usual political posturing, isn't it?

Remember him? The 'master strategist' who, in truth, helped orchestrate Nitish Kumar's rather resounding victory in 2015? Yes, that Prashant Kishor. He later had a stint, a brief one, with the JD(U), only to be—how shall we put it—expelled. Now, however, he's deep into his 'Jan Suraaj' padayatra, a grueling, almost epic, foot march that's already stretched for a remarkable sixteen months across Bihar. And no, despite the past 'losses' he shoulders, he’s certainly not throwing in the towel on politics; he made that abundantly clear, for once.

His 'Jan Suraaj' campaign, you see, isn't merely another political stunt. Not really. It’s an earnest, some might even argue, an idealistic endeavor aimed at unearthing genuine talent and articulating a truly coherent vision for Bihar’s long-stalled development. And let’s be absolutely clear on this point, because he’s stressed it repeatedly: 'Jan Suraaj' itself didn't actually contest the 2020 or, for that matter, even the recent 2024 elections. This isn’t a traditional political party. Not yet, anyway. It's a movement, a 'jan andolan' as he calls it, focused intently on empowering the populace, on shifting the very locus of power, perhaps.

Who, then, holds the ultimate key to Bihar’s future? Not him, he insists. Not his organization. It’s the people themselves, the myriad citizens of Bihar, who ultimately must chart their own course, decide their own destiny. This belief, you could say, underpins the broader 'Bihar Bachao'—or 'Save Bihar'—campaign, which is, honestly, inextricably linked to the 'Jan Suraaj' ethos. It’s a compelling call to action, if you will, for a state that has been grappling with decades of underdevelopment and, let’s face it, political stagnation.

He’s also been rather vocal, quite direct, in pushing back against the idea of him being some sort of 'middleman' or, worse, a 'broker' in the intricate web of the political landscape. Honestly, he explains, his professional engagement with Nitish Kumar was limited primarily to the 2015 elections; after that, there was no formal advisory role, no ongoing professional ties. Just, well, history. He operates independently, a singular force in a often crowded and noisy arena.

And it seems he’s quite frustrated, isn't he, with the current political climate where electoral choices are so often dictated by the old, worn-out divisions of caste and religion, rather than substantive issues that genuinely matter to the everyday lives of people? He laments, quite openly, that traditional political parties have, in truth, largely failed to articulate any compelling, long-term vision for Bihar, leaving a gaping void that his movement perhaps hopes to fill. It's an ambitious goal, certainly, but one he seems determined to pursue, come what may.