“‘Will Quit If …’ Prashant Kishor’s Bold Challenge to Nitish Kumar After Bihar Setback”

At a press conference in West Champaran, Kishor claimed that, following a poor election outcome for the NDA in Bihar, “Anybody can become the Chief Minister after the elections in November, except Nitish Kumar.” He went further: “If I am proven wrong, I will give up my campaign.”

Kishor’s remarks come amid mounting criticism of Kumar’s leadership. He has repeatedly attacked the 74-year-old CM’s physical and mental fitness, calling him “physically tired and mentally retired.”

He has also challenged Kumar to publicly name his cabinet ministers and their portfolios without reading from a script — a test of memory and transparency. Kishor has vowed that if Kumar succeeds, he will abandon his Jan Suraaj movement and return to supporting him.

On top of that, Kishor has openly called on Nitish Kumar to resign, claiming that his deteriorating mental state has weakened his ability to govern effectively.

Kishor’s challenge is not just personal — it reflects the broader narrative of his Jan Suraaj Party, which frames itself as a force for systemic change in Bihar. He accused Kumar of using constant political realignments to hang on to power, despite a weak mandate.

Adding to the drama, Kishor recently announced he will not contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections himself, instead focusing on building his party’s organization. He warned that anything less than an overwhelming mandate — specifically, fewer than 150 seats for his party — would constitute a defeat.

In a symbolic act of self-reflection, following his party’s electoral wipeout, Kishor has also declared a day-long maun vrat (vow of silence) on 20 November at the Gandhi Vidarbha Ashram, signaling his commitment to introspection and accountability.

Political analysts say that Kishor’s bold gambit could either crystallize his image as a principled outsider or backfire if his predictions don’t pan out — especially given his promise to step back if proven wrong.

For now, the spotlight is squarely on Kumar: will he take the bait, counter the challenge, or double down on his political survival tactics?