Prashant kishor: The chanakya of modern Indian politics

After working in public health under the United Nations for nearly eight years. He made a career shift. In 2011-12, He made his entry into politics as a strategist not as a politician. He formed a team called citizens for accountable governance (CAG) which gained its momentum and later renamed I-PAC (Indian political action committee) 
As he entered the scene, he planned strategies for Gujarat election in 2012 and Lok Sabha elections of 2014 and made Narendra Modi win. His plans played a significant role in BJP's historic win. 

Prashant kishor biography

The Strategist Behind India's Biggest Political Victories. He doesn’t contest elections; he decides who wins. From Narendra Modi's landslide victory in 2014 to the reawakening of regional powers, the mastermind behind the scenes. Prashant Kishor is the modern kingmaker. This piece uncovers how Prashant Kishor's political vision reshaped the electoral campaigns.

Prashant Kishor: Career as a Political Strategist 

• He worked in public health under the United Nations Programme for eight years. 
• Made a career shift in 2011-2012 and entered politics as a strategist. 
• Founded Citizens For Accountable Governance (CAG), later renamed as I-PAC (Indian Political Action Committee) 

He worked as the chief strategist in several electoral campaigns and helped them win with landslide victory:

• 2014 Lok Sabha election—Narendra Modi (BJP) 
• 2015 Bihar assembly election - JD(U)+Congress+RJD
• 2017 Punjab assembly election - Cap. Amarinder singh (congress) 
• 2019 Andhra Pradesh Assembly - Y. S. J Mohan Reddy (congress)
• 2020 Delhi Assembly Election - Arvind Kejriwal (AAP)
• 2021 West Bengal Assembly Election - Mamata Banerjee (TMC) 

Jan Suraaj movement & politics 

• He organized Jan Suraaj Padyatra (foot march) across the state of Bihar to understand the issues of people from the grassroot level. His main goals are to restructure the broken political system of Bihar, bring accountability, end caste-based prejudice and focus on  human development. 
• In 2018, He joined JD(U) with immediate posting as the vice president.In 2020, he was Expelled by Nitesh Kumar due to Anti- party activities. While being In JD(U) , he criticised the CAA/NRC act calling it “ Discriminatory and anti-constitutional.” 
• After 2021, Kishor retired as a political strategist. In an Interview he declared his Firm intention of quitting “I do not want to continue what I am doing. I have done enough. Time for me to take a break and do something else in life. I want to quit this space” 
• In 2022, He launched his non party political movement “Jan Suraaj” (people’s good governance) On many occasions he has expressed his desire to form a full fledged political party based on people’s support. 
• He organized Jan Suraaj Padyatra (Foot March)  across the state of Bihar to understand the issues of people from the grassroot level.
• His main goals are to restructure the broken political system of Bihar, bring accountability, end caste-based prejudice and focus on human development. 

Political ambitions & Activities in 2025 

• As of 2025, he has continued his padyatra across Bihar, he has covered 200+ blocks and thousands of villages interacting with farmers, women , youth and citizens.He wants to create a party which is run by the common man of Bihar and not the families. 
• His padyatra collected data and carried out surveys from unprivileged zones in Bihar to expose the failure of political establishments.He rebuked RJD for corruption and JD(U) for failed governance. 
• As Bihar assembly election approaches, he is particular about converting his non-political party movement into a full fledged political party.

Prashant kishor’s famous statements

“After 30 years of governance by two major political families, Bihar still ranks among the worst in health, education, and jobs.”

He said this to reprimand lalu yadav’s dynasty politics and nitesh kumar’s governance. 

“This is not just a party. Jan Suraaj is a platform to fix politics and governance, led by the people of Bihar, not by any family or caste group.”

This comment promotes jan suraaj while subtly condemning the dynasty politics that seemingly destroyed Bihar internally.

“No NRC in Bihar. We will not implement it."

 He had constantly shown his disapproval of CAA NRC on many events.