Prashant Kishor Calls Nitish Kumar 'Mentally Unfit'

Poll strategist-turned-activist Prashant Kishor launched a scathing critique of the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) on Tuesday, asserting that the party would face the same political consequences for backing Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as the Congress did for supporting Lalu Yadav. Kishor’s comments came just a day before the launch of his new political party, Jan Suraaj.

In an interview, Kishor claimed that Kumar is neither mentally nor physically fit to lead Bihar , stating that public sentiment in the state will result in the sidelining of both major political alliances in favor of his party, which he believes will secure an absolute majority in the upcoming assembly elections.

“The Congress helped Lalu Prasad run a 'jungle raj' for 15 years, and the people of Bihar uprooted them completely. The BJP will suffer the same fate,” he warned, suggesting that backing Kumar represents a political compulsion for the BJP. Kishor argued that the BJP recognizes the risks of losing power if Kumar remains in charge, yet feels forced to support him due to the need for Janata Dal (United) MPs.

Kishor noted that Nitish Kumar 's recent absence from public life has raised questions about his fitness to lead. “A big section in Bihar is wondering if he is mentally and physically fit to provide leadership to Bihar,” he stated, highlighting Kumar's poor performance in the 2020 elections, where the JD(U) won only 42 seats compared to the BJP 's 74, and Lalu Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) emerging as the largest party with 75 seats.

He further criticized the BJP for attempting to "impose" Kumar on Bihar , despite its own greater strength in the assembly. Asserting his confidence, Kishor declared that Jan Suraaj would not align with any existing political formations and expressed his intent to lead a new political movement in Bihar.