For over a decade, Prashant Kishor was India’s political wizard, the strategist who powered Narendra Modi’s 2014 wave, shaped Nitish Kumar’s comebacks, and steered Mamata Banerjee to decisive victories. But when the 48-year-old finally stepped out from behind the curtains and into the political arena himself, the magic faded. His party, Jan Suraaj, marketed as a data-driven political start-up promising “good governance for the people,” failed to win even a single seat in the 2025 Bihar elections.
A Political Start-Up Born Without a Movement
Kishor spent two years walking across Bihar, building a sleek organisation, and fielding candidates in 238 constituencies. The hype was enormous. The votes were not. Experts say Jan Suraaj lacked the one thing most successful new parties have, a mass movement. Unlike the AAP, born out of anti-corruption protests, or the AGP and TDP, rooted in regional uprisings, Jan Suraaj came across as an “intellectual project” rather than a people’s agitation.
When Visibility Doesn’t Convert Into Votes
Kishor drew huge crowds, generated constant media buzz, and dominated social media but that didn’t translate into electoral strength. Bihar in 2025 wasn’t angry, unstable, or looking for a dramatic change. Without anti-incumbency or emotional mobilisation, voters stuck to familiar caste and political loyalties. As analysts put it, Kishor had recognition, not a social base.
The Missing Leader at the Frontline
Perhaps the biggest misstep? Kishor never contested a seat himself. For a new party, people look for a leader willing to take risks like Kejriwal did when he challenged Sheila Dikshit. Kishor’s absence on the ballot made Jan Suraaj feel like an experiment, not a revolution.
Is the Story Over?
Despite the setback, experts believe Kishor still has a future if he remains on the ground, builds local leadership and returns in 2030 not just as a strategist, but as a contender. After all, as one voter said: “He’s just getting his feet wet. No one becomes a superhero in one election.”