Patna, Nov 18 (NationPress) The founder of Jan Suraaj, Prashant Kishor, addressed the media for the first time on Tuesday following his party's devastating defeat in the Bihar Assembly elections, taking full accountability for the failure to earn the trust of the electorate.

During a press conference, Kishor stated, “We envisioned a transformative journey aimed at changing the electoral landscape of Bihar and establishing a viable alternative. Unfortunately, we fell short of our goals. I accept total responsibility for the party's poor performance in the elections.”

“This moment calls for deep reflection on our part. As an act of atonement, I, alongside my Jan Suraaj team and supporters, will observe a one-day fast at the Bhitiharwa Gandhi Ashram—the birthplace of our fight against political corruption and our commitment to altering the electoral dialogue in Bihar,” he remarked.

The strategist-turned-politician acknowledged that the electoral setback was a significant blow not just for him but also for countless Jan Suraaj supporters. However, he emphasized that this defeat would not weaken their resolve to dismantle ‘corrupt’ governance and establish a leadership that is honest and principled.

Dispelling rumors of his departure from politics after this loss, Kishor asserted, “I will neither abandon Bihar nor withdraw from politics. There is no question of stepping back from our commitment to bring change to Bihar,” and referenced an English saying, “You are not defeated unless you quit the race.”

He also offered congratulations to the BJP and NDA for their unprecedented public support and urged the Nitish government to fulfill its pre-election promises, including increasing the financial aid to 1.5 crore women from Rs 10,000 to Rs 2 lakh, which had been provided to millions of Jeevika Didis under the employment generation scheme.

“The new government must deliver on its electoral commitments. The Nitish government needs to ensure that it raises the financial assistance to women from Rs 10,000 to Rs 2 lakh as promised prior to the elections,” he insisted.

The Jan Suraaj founder accused the current administration of buying votes by misappropriating Rs 40,000 crore from its treasury, dubbing the transfer of Rs 10,000 into the accounts of 1.5 crore Jeevika Didis as a major factor behind his party's poor performance in the Assembly elections.

It is noteworthy that Prashant Kishor's nascent party managed to secure merely 3.34 percent of the vote share in a fiercely contested electoral battle, despite the substantial anticipation and social media buzz surrounding the emergence of his party as a potential political alternative in the state.