After Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party (JSP), touted as the ‘X factor’ in the recently concluded Bihar election, failed to win even a single seat in the 243-member Assembly, he has taken responsibility for the setback. Kishor, in his first reaction since the election, apologised for the poor performance, saying that the party tried “very positively” but was ultimately unable to bring about a change in the state’s ruling dispensation.
‘I humbly apologise,’ says Prashant Kishor
“We tried very positively from our end. We failed to change this government. We tried a lot from our end, but it seems we failed somewhere,” Prashant Kishor said during a press conference.
He further said, “I take all the blame on me as I failed to let people understand,” before adding, “We will do our introspection.”
“I humbly apologise,” he went on to say.
#WATCH | Patna, Bihar | Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor says, "…We made an honest effort, but it was completely unsuccessful. There's no harm in admitting this. Forget about systemic change; we couldn't even bring about a change in power. But we certainly played some role in… pic.twitter.com/gw0xIlZlPn
— ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2025
‘No question of backing down,’ Kishor
He said the setback has only fueled him, adding that he will not step back until his goal of improving Bihar is achieved. “I will work twice as hard as I have in the past three years and put in all my energy. There is no question of backing down. I will not turn back until I fulfil my resolve to make Bihar better,” he said. He, however, said that he will definitely quit politics if the Nitish government fails to give Rs 2 lakh each to 1.5 cr people as promised before the polls.
Kishor added that he will observe a day-long silent fast at the Gandhi Bhitiharwa Ashram on November 20 as an act of “repentance and introspection”. He also defended his party’s track record, adding that they have neither committed a crime nor bought votes.
“We may have made mistakes, but we have not committed any crime. We have not committed the crime of spreading caste-based poison in society. We have not played Hindu-Muslim politics in Bihar. We have not committed the crime of dividing people in the name of religion. We have not committed the crime of giving money to the poor, innocent people of Bihar and buying their votes…,” he added.
‘Gov promised to spend Rs 40,000 cr for people’
Kishor addressed the reasons behind the NDA’s sweeping victory in Bihar, stating that the alliance’s promise to spend Rs 40,000 crore for the people played a major role. He also dismissed rumours about voters selling their votes.
“For the first time in independent India – especially in Bihar – a government promised to spend Rs 40,000 crore for people, and that is why the NDA secured such a big majority. People are saying voters sold their votes for Rs 10,000. That is not true; people here will not sell their future or their children’s future. There is no end to this debate. Some are alleging wrongdoing by the Election Commission – that is their matter. But in every Assembly seat, at least 60,000-62,000 people were given Rs 10,000 and promised a Rs 2 lakh loan. Government officials were on duty telling people they would get the loan if the NDA returned to power, and Jeevika didis were put on duty for this.”