'Bihar A Failed State, In Deep S***': Prashant Kishor Tells Diaspora In US After Party Fails Debut In Bypolls

Prashant Kishor lashed out at the pervasive hopelessness in Bihar's society, attributing it to the daily struggles for survival that overshadow aspirations for progress.

Jan Suraaj leader and former poll strategist Prashant Kishor has labelled Bihar as "literally a failed state," adding that it is "in deep s***" and requires tremendous effort to drive its overall development. The remark came amid a virtual interaction with the Bihari diaspora in the United States following the launch of his party chapter in the US.

Prashant Kishor expressed confidence that the Jan Suraaj party would win the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, despite the poor performance of the party in the recent Bihar Assembly bypolls, where it couldn't manage to secure a single seat as 3 out of 4 candidates lost their deposits.

Highlighting the grim reality of Bihar's challenges, he told India Today, "We have to realise that this (Bihar) is a state which is in deep s***. If Bihar were a country, it would be the 11th largest in the world in terms of population. We have just overtaken Japan in population."

Kishor lashed out at the pervasive hopelessness in Bihar's society, attributing it to the daily struggles for survival that overshadow aspirations for progress. Drawing comparisons to failed states, he remarked, "For example... sometimes we think... why are people in Sudan fighting for 20 years in a civil war? Because when you are in that failed state, then people are not worried about how our children will study. They are worried about whom to shoot and where to capture. That is the situation in Bihar too."

If Jan Suraaj Comes To Power In 2025, It Will Reform School Education System: Prashant Kishor 

Despite this bleak outlook, Kishor expressed optimism, highlighting the efforts of Jan Suraaj over the past two and a half years as groundwork for future change. He acknowledged that achieving tangible results in governance would require time and sustained effort.

Kishor outlined his vision for Bihar's development, stating that if Jan Suraaj comes to power in 2025, its foremost priority would be reforming the school education system. He suggested funding this initiative by lifting the state’s ineffective alcohol ban, which he argued has harmed revenue.

Addressing the Bihari diaspora, Kishor urged them to move beyond discussions and actively contribute to Bihar's development. He candidly stated, "I have not seen anything very tangible on the ground. Beyond sessions, I have not seen anything tangible. Ultimately, you don't do anything. Don't take it otherwise, but you don't."

Despite Jan Suraaj's poor showing in recent bypolls, Kishor remains confident about the party’s prospects, asserting, "The Jan Suraaj will win in 2025. There is no doubt about it. (Based on my) electoral understanding, I can clearly see that we will win."

While admitting that transforming Bihar into a middle-income state by 2029-2030 is a major challenge, Kishor described it as an achievable goal with consistent and dedicated efforts.