After first list, all eyes on PK’s next move

As the political temperature in Bihar begins to rise ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections, much of the buzz surrounds one man: Prashant Kishor. The political strategist-turned-political reformer has been walking across Bihar for over two years as part of his Jan Suraaj Yatra, promising to build a new kind of political alternative.

Now, with his party Jan Suraaj releasing its first list of 51 candidates, the movement seems ready to test itself in the electoral arena. However, amid all the anticipation, one question remains unanswered and continues to dominate political discourse: Will Prashant Kishor himself contest the election?

A candidate list that signals strategy

The list released by Jan Suraaj includes a mix of professionals, social workers, doctors, and political greenhorns - a move reminiscent of the 2013 strategy of Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party. Among the more high-profile names are Jagrati Thakur, the granddaughter of former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur, and Lata Singh, daughter of former Union Minister and ex-JDU national president RCP Singh.

Jagrati will contest from Morwa in Samastipur, while Lata has been fielded from Asthawan, a traditional JDU bastion in Nalanda. These choices are seen not only as symbolic but as a clear attempt by PK to challenge the established vote banks of both Lalu Yadav’s RJD and Nitish Kumar’s JDU.

Interestingly, Jan Suraaj has also fielded Bhojpuri actor Ritesh Pandey from Karaghar in Rohtas a Brahmin-dominated seat where, until recently, there was heavy speculation that Prashant Kishor might himself contest. The decision to give the ticket to Pandey has only deepened the mystery around PK’s own electoral plans. For now, Kishor continues to avoid a direct answer, keeping political observers guessing.

To contest or command: two paths

The debate over whether PK should fight an election himself draws inevitable comparisons from Indian political history. Some political commentators believe that Kishor could follow the model of Kanshi Ram, the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party, who never fought an election but successfully built his party into a formidable political force by empowering others and staying above the fray.

Similarly, Bal Thackeray never held public office, yet ruled Maharashtra politics for years through what many called “remote control”. These leaders built charisma-driven political machines that did not require their direct electoral participation.

On the other hand, there’s the argument that leading from the front is essential, particularly in an era where voters want to see accountability and personal commitment. Leaders like Arvind Kejriwal and M. Karunanidhi are examples of this model both built movements and contested elections themselves, eventually becoming chief ministers.

Kejriwal’s decision to contest from New Delhi in 2013 gave his campaign a face and momentum. If Prashant Kishor truly wants to embody the change he speaks about, many believe he must also subject himself to the people’s mandate.

Kishor’s situation, however, is uniquely challenging. Jan Suraaj is entirely built around his personality, vision, and credibility. If he decides to contest, there’s a real risk that he may become confined to campaigning in his own constituency, limiting his ability to manage the party's campaign across Bihar’s 243 seats. With most Jan Suraaj candidates being first-timers or political novices,

PK’s presence on the ground, coordination, and daily strategizing are considered essential. In that sense, his strength may lie in being everywhere rather than being tied down to one seat.

Yet, critics argue that avoiding the electoral battle may undermine the credibility of his mission. It may raise questions about his commitment or fear of defeat, especially since he has repeatedly spoken about cleansing the political system and bringing new ethics into public life. In a state like Bihar, where personality plays a crucial role, PK’s absence from the ballot could send mixed signals.

Taking a leaf out of Kejriwal’s book ?

The choice of candidates, largely from professional and non-political backgrounds, is strongly reminiscent of the 2013 Delhi Assembly election, when Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP made a splash by fielding activists, doctors, former bureaucrats, and teachers. Jan Suraaj seems to be adopting a similar strategy, offering “clean” candidates to voters disillusioned with traditional caste and dynasty-driven politics.

However, unlike Kejriwal , who contested and won from the then Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit’s stronghold , speculation about PK fighting maiden election still remai

Whether this is a carefully calculated strategy or indecision will only become clear with time. What is certain is that the suspense over his candidature has already given Jan Suraaj a larger share of political conversation than most new parties usually get.