Chirag Paswan dismisses Prashant Kishor’s electoral chances: ‘Definitely a factor but…’

The elections in Bihar are expected to be held later this year

Union Minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan -- responding to a question on which leader between him, Tejashwi Yadav or Prashant Kishor best represents the youth of Bihar – told CNN-News18 said, “Time will tell, and the people will decide who the real Yuva Bihari neta is.”

Asked if Prashant Kishor is an X-factor in the coming polls, Chirag Paswan quipped, “Well, definitely a factor – I don’t know an X, Y or Z factor! I was once an X factor in 2020, so I am sure Prashant won’t like to listen to this given how I performed then -- he would surely want to win far more seats than what I won then.”

Even as Kishor’s ‘Jan Suraaj Party’ campaign has been creating quite a buzz and pulling strong crowds in Bihar, Paswan said Bihar’s electorate is highly politically aware, and elections there generally remain two-way battles, offering limited space for a third player.

“So eventually it will be either NDA or Mahagathbandan which wins. I don’t think a third party can win — may be they will be a factor in denting this or that alliance, I don’t know, time will tell. But on the terms of winnability, I don’t see much space for a third party," Paswan told CNN-News18.

For more than a decade, Kishor worked as a poll strategist, helping both BJP and Congress in winning polls. However, in 2024, he floated the Jan Suraaj Party and announced to contest all assembly seats in the 2025 election.

Kishor also embarked on a padyatra in Bihar, aiming to connect with the voters.

The elections in Bihar are expected to be held later this year. However, no official announcement has been made regarding the date as yet.

Earlier, in an interaction with ANI, Kishor came up with a suggestion for Paswan and said that if the latter wants to make a genuine impact in Bikar polls, he must quit as union minister and work for the people of Bihar.

"The day he resigns as union minister and clarifies that he will work for Bihar, then people will take him seriously in Bihar. People in Bihar started taking me seriously when I clarified that I will not be doing the work I used to do, and since then, it's been three years and I am here in Bihar only and making efforts," Prashant Kishor said.

“So if Chirag wants to play a massive role in Bihar elections, he must leave Delhi and live in Bihar. And if he doesn't, then he is still an MP for Bihar,” he added.