After Bihar poll rout, Prashant Kishor meets Priyanka Gandhi, sparks political buzz

After the disappointing performance of Jan Suraj Party in Bihar Assembly elections, election strategist turned leader Prashant Kishor is once again in the political news. Kishor recently held a closed-door meeting with Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, which has triggered fresh speculation in political circles.

Sources said the meeting lasted for about two hours, although both sides tried to play down its significance by calling it a routine conversation.

This meeting is taking place in the backdrop of the crushing election defeat of Kishor’s Jan Suraj Party. The party contested 238 seats in the Bihar Assembly elections, but failed to win even a single constituency, with the deposits of 236 candidates being forfeited. Congress also performed weakly, winning only six out of 61 seats.

Kishor’s interactions with Priyanka Gandhi have raised questions about a possible recalibration of political strategy, especially after she had maintained a clear distance from the Congress during the Bihar campaign.

Past relations and results with Congress

Kishor’s association with the Congress leadership began in 2021, following his exit from Janata Dal (United). In April 2022, Kishor presented a detailed revival plan to the Congress leadership at a meeting held at Sonia Gandhi’s residence, which was attended by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

At that time, Kishor was offered a role in the party’s proposed “Empowered Action Group”, which he declined, arguing that the Congress needed structural reforms and decisive leadership rather than limited organizational roles. Due to disagreements, the two parted ways and Kishor later emerged as a sharp critic of the party.

During the Bihar election campaign, Kishor avoided allying with the Congress and also rejected issues raised by Rahul Gandhi, including allegations of “vote theft” and concerns over Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

Do not rule out political talks

However, the meeting with Priyanka Gandhi after the elections shows that the lines of communication will remain open. An Indian Express report quoting sources said the discussion focused on Bihar politics, the opposition’s strategy and future political prospects. However, there is no clarity on whether the talks will translate into any formal cooperation.

At present, both Congress and Kishor camp say that this meeting was just a courtesy call. Still, the talks immediately after the disappointing election results in Bihar have fueled speculation that Kishor may be reevaluating his political choices.