Prashant Kishor: 'Why I Rejected Congress Offer'

We Will Start In Bihar, But Will Not Be Restricted To The State

- Soni Mishra/Patna

In his first-ever interview after declaring that he has turned the page, shut the chapter of his life as a poll strategist and returned to his roots to find a new role for himself, the inimitable Prashant Kishor reveals that his new initiative—Jan Suraaj (good governance for the people)—could well be a precursor to taking the political plunge.

Kishor, 45, has created a buzz in Bihar, where he seeks to begin the Jan Suraaj campaign and probably his political stint. He critiques Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s record as a pro-development leader, saying that his tenure has made little change to the state’s rankings on developmental indices.

Kishor speaks at length about his discussions with the Congress that dealt with the party’s revival and his role in it. He says he never wanted an individual role, and forming a group to implement the recommendations was in fact his suggestion. He declined Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s invitation to join the party and the Empowered Action Group—formed to undertake reforms in the party—as he believes it is not aligned with the party’s constitution and may well have ended up as a recommendatory body. He also clarifies that Rahul Gandhi was as involved as he could be in the discussions.

Asked if becoming chief minister of Bihar was an aim over the next few years, he says he does not plan much in advance, believes in working to the best of his ability and leaving things to God. Excerpts from the interview:

Q. What is Jan Suraaj? What does it entail?