Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor has shifted to an ashram on the outskirts of Patna, declaring that it will serve as his political base until the next Bihar Assembly elections, where he hopes his party will emerge as a significant force.
Speaking to reporters in Darbhanga on Wednesday, the 48-year-old political strategist-turned-politician said he moved out of his Patna residence on Tuesday night and relocated to the Bihar Navnirman Ashram near IIT-Patna.
“Last night I shifted out of the place in Patna where I had been living. The Bihar Navnirman Ashram shall be my abode till the next Assembly elections, when the Jan Suraaj Party will, hopefully, make an impact,” Kishor said.
Kishor, co-founder of Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), quit political consultancy and launched the Jan Suraaj Party in 2024. Until now, he had been operating from Sheikhpura House, a sprawling bungalow near Patna airport owned by the family of Jan Suraaj national president and former BJP MP Uday Singh.
During his interaction, Kishor also sharpened his criticism of former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who recently stepped down and moved to the Rajya Sabha.
“The person elected as chief minister could not stop migration caused by economic distress. Instead, he chose to migrate himself, but only after ensuring his son got a foothold,” Kishor said, referring to Nishant Kumar’s entry into the BJP-led government headed by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.
Appealing to voters ahead of future elections, Kishor urged people to cast votes based on their interests and future aspirations rather than caste, religion or financial inducements.
“The people of Bihar should think about the future of their own children while voting. They should not be swayed by leaders like Narendra Modi, Nitish Kumar or Lalu Prasad, nor sell their votes for Rs 10,000,” he remarked.
The statement was viewed as an indirect reference to the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, under which over 1.5 crore women reportedly received financial assistance.
Kishor also warned about potential economic challenges arising from geopolitical tensions in West Asia. He claimed fuel prices could increase sharply and shortages of fertilisers may worsen.
“People may witness petrol and diesel prices increasing by up to Rs 10 per litre. Farmers who previously complained about black marketing may now face actual shortages,” he said.
Targeting the current administration, Kishor accused the government of extravagance despite Bihar being among India’s poorest states.
“Bihar is the poorest state in the country, yet its chief minister lives in a 25-acre residence. The cost of maintaining it must be enormous,” he alleged.
The move to the ashram and Kishor’s political messaging come as Jan Suraaj attempts to position itself as an alternative force in Bihar’s evolving political landscape.
