Even if Prashant Kishor’s party gets just a few seats, it could still reshape Bihar’s politics. Sometimes losing an election is the best way to win public trust.
By Piyush Kaviraj
Bihar stands at a political crossroads. The old guard is weary, the youth restless, and public faith in governance brittle. In this climate, Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraj captured attention with its promise of reform. But a slower political rise — not an overnight victory — might actually serve both the movement and Bihar better.
What if losing becomes winning for Bihar?
Keeping exit polls data aside, if Jan Suraj wins outright, it will be a big success for Prashant Kishor. But if the party comes second or even third, securing just a few seats, too could be a quiet victory .
Sometimes, losing an election allows a movement to build credibility, discipline, and experience — all of which are essential for lasting reform in a politically layered state like Bihar.
Bihar’s long wait for steady governance
For decades, Bihar’s story has been one of unrealized potential. It has a young population, a deep talent pool, and an enduring migration crisis. People want change, but are cautious after years of political churn.
Jan Suraj has tapped into that sentiment, but trust must be earned slowly. Bihar doesn’t need another quick wave — it needs consistent, grounded leadership that grows into the role rather than rushes toward it.
Inexperience and the temptation of power
Even if Jan Suraj’s MLAs are honest and well-intentioned, they will be new to the machinery of governance. Bihar’s bureaucracy is dense, political alliances are fragile, and the system often resists reform.
Fresh legislators can easily be trapped, framed, or swayed. Even before the polling, some of their candidates were seen changing sides, or withdrew from contest. Worse, the sudden thrill of power can test their integrity. A few years in opposition would allow them to learn governance without the burden of ruling, and to understand how policy, budgets, and politics really work.
The cautionary tale of AAP
The Aam Aadmi Party once embodied similar hopes of clean politics and people-first governance. But swift success brought turbulence — internal rifts, corruption allegations, and several leaders behind bars.
Jan Suraj may not face the same fate, but the lesson stands: rapid power without institutional depth can destroy reformist credibility. Building political and administrative maturity slowly could help Jan Suraj avoid that trap.
Opposition as a training ground
Even from the opposition benches, Jan Suraj could play a decisive role. They can act as policy watchdogs, question inefficiencies, and keep governance discussions alive.
At the grassroots, their volunteers can work on local development, engage with communities, and demonstrate small-scale impact. This period can also help them understand what resonates with Biharis, refine their message, and build loyalty beyond slogans.
Where Tejashwi has an edge
Unlike Kishor’s team, Tejashwi Yadav already has administrative experience. His tenure as Deputy Chief Minister gave him some exposure to governance, and his focus on job creation has earned him a measure of credibility among Bihar’s youth.
Jan Suraj, meanwhile, could use this time to gain practical experience on the ground — managing local issues, experimenting with solutions, and proving their seriousness before seeking full control of the state.
The Prashant Kishor paradox
Kishor’s technocratic image is both an asset and a liability. His experience with multiple national parties gives him unmatched strategic insight, but also makes many Biharis skeptical of his loyalty to one cause.
Jan Suraj’s cadre — composed of teachers, students, and local workers — represents something more grassroots and idealistic. Bridging that gap between Kishor’s policy expertise and the cadre’s local sincerity will decide whether Jan Suraj becomes a genuine people’s movement or just a political consultancy with a new logo.
Lessons from Bihar’s own history
Bihar’s political evolution has often followed this arc. From Jayaprakash Narayan’s movement to Nitish Kumar’s early years in opposition, history shows that political maturity is usually forged outside power. Movements that grow slowly tend to survive longer and lead more responsibly.
Hoping for sincerity — and second chances
This is not about endorsing or dismissing any party. Bihar needs leaders who listen before they rule, who put competence above symbolism.
Against cautious wisdom, I want to believe that both Prashant Kishor (or Pushpam Priya or any other sincere youth leader) genuinely wish to work for Bihar’s development. If so, they deserve a chance — for PK, one to prove that a strategist can become a leader, and the other that experience can evolve into meaningful reform.
If Jan Suraj spends the next few years listening, learning, and delivering on the ground, its real victory might not come in 2025 but may be in 2030 or later. And perhaps that kind of victory — slow, earned, and deeply rooted — is the one Bihar waits for all along.
