Prashant Kishor, the founder of the Jan Suraaj Party, addressed the media in his first post-election press conference on Tuesday, acknowledging the party’s honest efforts that ultimately did not yield the desired results. He expressed his commitment to taking full responsibility for the setbacks encountered, emphasizing that despite the failure to alter the current government, he remains resolute in his determination to learn from mistakes and emerge stronger. Kishor articulated a sense of personal accountability, stating that he regretted not being able to effectively communicate with the electorate, which he believes contributed to the party’s lack of success. In a gesture of reflection, he announced his intention to observe a ‘maun upvas’ or vow of silence for a day, indicating a period of introspection following the electoral defeat.
Furthermore, Kishor defended his party’s approach, asserting that not securing votes should not be equated with wrongdoing. He highlighted that his party refrained from engaging in caste-based politics or divisive religious narratives, choosing instead to maintain integrity by not resorting to unethical practices such as vote-buying. He pointed out that those who have engaged in such actions will ultimately face repercussions. Drawing a parallel to the Mahabharata, he remarked that despite the fall of Abhimanyu, the ultimate victory belonged to those who stood for justice. Kishor also noted that for the first time in independent India, a government has pledged to allocate Rs 40,000 crore for the welfare of the people, a factor he believes contributed to the NDA’s significant electoral majority.
