
Jan Suraaj founder and Bankipur MLA Prashant Kishor shut down speculation of a political truce with the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday, asserting that a brief social encounter with Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary signals no change in his fierce opposition to the ruling leadership.
Speaking to reporters in Patna, Kishor clarified that he crossed paths with Chaudhary at a shraddha ceremony. The encounter sparked immediate chatter across Bihar's political corridors. Kishor dismissed the speculation outright. Etiquette is not endorsement.
"Our culture teaches us to maintain social and political etiquette when we meet someone," Kishor said. "My meeting with Samrat Chaudhary will not turn someone who failed Class 7 into a PhD holder. I have previously described him as a criminal. Just because I met him once does not mean I will start portraying him as a saint or sage."
He insisted that personal bitterness plays no part in his political calculations. Pointing to past alliances, Kishor noted he worked alongside Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar and later opposed him publicly, yet maintains no personal animosity toward him or Rashtriya Janata Dal patriarch Lalu Prasad.
The struggle is for the reform of Bihar; it is not directed against any single individual, caste, social class, or political party. My politics are focused on the reform of Bihar.
Prashant Kishor, Jan Suraaj Founder and Bankipur MLA
Kishor pivoted quickly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to Bihar on November 21. Infrastructure announcements alone will not suffice. Kishor argued that rail and road packages sidestep the state's persistent structural crises, specifically devastating floods that recently displaced and impacted 50 lakh residents across rural belts.
Promises require delivery. During the Assembly election campaign, Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured voters that a BJP-led administration would engineer a permanent solution to recurring deluge cycles. Kishor challenged the Prime Minister to present an actionable blueprint rather than empty rhetoric when his flight lands next week.
"Roads and trains alone cannot ensure the well-being of the people of Bihar," Kishor said. "The Prime Minister should explain when the state will get a permanent solution to floods and when migration will end."
Turning to allegations of phone tapping raised by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Kishor showed little surprise. Electronic surveillance across the political ecosystem is long established, he said, noting that his own contact details appeared on target lists during the Pegasus controversy.
"Phone tapping has been happening for a long time," Kishor observed. "My name was also on the list released during the Pegasus controversy. Many people's phones are tapped. This is the reality, and people have to accept it."
Before addressing reporters, Kishor spent the morning walking the streets of his Bankipur Assembly constituency. The tour coincided with Nahay-Khay, the inaugural day of the four-day Chhath festival, where he met residents and devotees preparing ceremonial offerings along riverfront neighbourhoods.
| Constituency Ward | Locality Inspected | Community Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Ward 21 | Krishna Puri | Festival preparations and civic access |
| Ward 22 | Anand Puri | Local resident interaction and drainage |
| Ward 23 | S.K. Puri | Chhath devotee outreach |
| Ward 24 | Pehalwan Ghat | Riverfront safety and ritual logistics |
| Ward 26 |
| Buddha Colony |
| Public sanitation and civic amenities |
| Ward 27 | Langar Toli Gali & Nala Road | Urban congestion and infrastructure review |