After losing the Bihar elections, Jan Suraaj chief Prashant Kishor has spoken out for the first time. Addressing the media, Kishor said he takes full responsibility for the party’s defeat. “We tried our best with a positive approach. We could not change the government. 

Despite all our efforts, it seems we fell short somewhere. I take the blame upon myself for failing to communicate effectively with the people. We will introspect. I am sorry that our efforts did not succeed. I will observe a ‘maun upvas’ (vow of silence) for a day,” the poll strategist-turned-politician said.

His party contested 238 out of 243 Assembly seats but failed to win even one. On the other hand, the ruling NDA, led by the BJP and Nitish Kumar’s JDU, secured a massive victory with 202 seats. The BJP won 89 seats, JDU got 85, and Chirag Paswan’s LJP (Ram Vilas) also played a major role with 19 seats.

Speaking to the media, Kishor said he accepts full responsibility for the defeat. He admitted that despite trying hard, his party could not convince the people of Bihar to vote for them. “We made an honest effort, but it did not work. There is no harm in accepting this. 

We could not even bring a change in power, let alone bring big reforms. Something went wrong in our planning, thinking, or in the way we communicated with the public. If people did not trust us, the responsibility is mine,” he said. Kishor also made it clear that he is not quitting politics. This statement contradicts his earlier claim that he would retire from politics if the JDU won more than 25 seats.

The JDU ended up winning 85 seats. However, Kishor defended himself by saying he still stands by his words. He challenged the government to fulfil its promise of giving Rs 2 lakh each to 1.5 crore people. If they do so, he said he will immediately retire from politics without hesitation.

He also rejected allegations made by some Opposition parties that voters sold their votes. Kishor said the real reason behind NDA’s big win was a major pre-poll promise. According to him, the government promised to spend nearly Rs 40,000 crore for the welfare of the people.

This, he said, influenced the voters. He added that government officials and Jeevika workers told people they would get the benefits only if NDA returned to power. Kishor said that people in Bihar would not sell their or their children’s future. He admitted defeat but added that he will continue his political journey. “You are only defeated when you give up. I will stand again with the same strength,” he said.