Prashant Kishor

This special report unpacks the political firestorm in Bihar, focusing on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Patna and the murder of Jan Suraaj supporter Dularchand Yadav in Mokama. In response to the violence, opposition leaders have fiercely criticized the ruling government, with Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor stating it reflects the persistence of the 'jungle raj'. The incident has triggered a fierce political battle, with the Election Commission ordering the transfer of the Patna Superintendent of Police (Rural) and two other officials. Leaders like Tejashwi Yadav and Priyanka Gandhi have slammed the Nitish Kumar government, alleging a failure of administration. The report also details the Prime Minister's engagements in Patna, including his roadshow and tribute to poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, set against this backdrop of escalating political tensions ahead of the assembly elections.

In an exclusive interview with India Today, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary addresses key political questions, firmly stating that Nitish Kumar will continue as Chief Minister of Bihar if the NDA returns to power. 'Vacancy nahi hai aage bhee mukhyamantri Nitish Kumar (There is no vacancy, Nitish Kumar will remain the Chief Minister ahead as well),' Chaudhary asserted, quashing speculation about a BJP CM. He also confronts a volley of personal allegations from political strategist Prashant Kishor, including accusations of falsifying his age to evade a murder charge and misrepresenting his educational qualifications. Chaudhary dismisses the allegations, stating he is ready to quit politics if any charge is proven and indicates he may file a defamation suit after the elections. The discussion also touches upon dynasty politics and a recent shooting incident in Mokama.

This special report features Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister, Samrat Chaudhary, addressing critical questions about the state's political future and confronting serious personal allegations. Chaudhary provides a firm guarantee on the leadership question, putting an end to speculation about the Chief Minister's post within the NDA. 'Nitish Kumar is a leader and will be a leader in the future as well,' he asserts, dismissing any possibility of a change. The interview also delves into the accusations made by political strategist Prashant Kishor, who has publicly accused Chaudhary of falsifying his age and educational qualifications and being involved in a decades-old murder case. Chaudhary refutes these claims, challenging Kishor to prove them while also discussing dynastic politics, comparing his own family's political background to that of Lalu Prasad Yadav's.

In this special report, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav launches a scathing attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the BJP. Yadav predicts that the BJP will not allow Nitish Kumar to return as Chief Minister if the NDA wins the upcoming assembly elections, and alleges that the state is effectively being run from Delhi by Amit Shah and Narendra Modi. According to Tejashwi, ‘Bihar wo nahi chala rahe AB wo hijack hoge Modi aur Amit Shah Jo hai Delhi baithh karke wo Bihar chala de Nitish Kumar Ji ko keval putla bana diya yeh’ (He is not running Bihar now, he has been hijacked. Modi and Amit Shah are running Bihar from Delhi, they have made Nitish Kumar Ji a mere puppet). The interview also delves into Tejashwi Yadav's allegations of vote theft in the 2020 elections, his vision for a 'Naya Bihar', the challenge from Prashant Kishor, and the comparison with his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav.

This special report focuses on the political violence in Bihar's Mokama, where Jan Suraj party supporter Dularchand Yadav was shot dead during an election campaign. Taking serious cognizance, the Election Commission of India has sought a detailed report from the Bihar DGP and directed officials to seize all illegal weapons to ensure peaceful polls. The incident during the peak of electioneering has 'once again raised law and order concerns in Bihar under the NDA rule, with the Jan Suraj Party terming it an assault on democratic rights'. The killing is being seen in the context of a fierce rivalry between local strongmen Anant Singh and Surajbhan Singh. The poll body has tasked officials with strictly enforcing law and order to prevent any further violence in the poll-bound state.

This special report from India Today examines the escalating political violence in Bihar's Mokama, following the death of Jansuraj worker Dularchand Yadav. The incident has ignited a fierce blame game involving JDU strongman Anant Singh, Jansuraj founder Prashant Kishor, and RJD's Suraj Bhan Singh. The Jansuraj party has accused the state administration of failure, with a representative stating it 'shows that somewhere, the 'Jungle Raj' that was talked about in Bihar... this reflects that'. The violence erupted when convoys of rival political groups clashed, leading to stone-pelting and gunfire that resulted in Yadav's death. An FIR has since been filed naming Anant Singh and four others, while Singh's camp has filed a counter-FIR. The Election Commission has sought a detailed report on the incident as security is heightened in the volatile constituency ahead of the polls.

As Bihar gears up for the two-phase assembly election with results on November 14, we raise these questions on the show: Who is winning this war for Bihar and why?  Is Bihar 2025 likely to be as close as 2020? Watch as some of the top pollsters of the country share their perspective on these and more on the Bihar Election Roundtable with Rajdeep Sardesai.

The big focus of this episode of India First is on the all-out war for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's legacy on his 150th birth anniversary. 

This special report unpacks the critical factors set to define the upcoming Bihar election, with insights from political analyst Sandeep Shastri on a panel hosted by India Today's Rajdeep Sardesai. The discussion navigates the complex interplay of traditional caste arithmetic, the influence of women voters, and the significant impact of direct cash transfers, such as the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana. 'I still would stick my neck out, Rajdeep, and say we are ignoring the youth vote,' Sandeep Shastri stated, arguing that young voters are more determined than ever to participate and could be the ultimate game-changer. The analysis also weighs the 2020 Lokniti-CSDS poll data against the current political landscape, questioning whether cash benefits can override deep-rooted community loyalties and whether Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj movement can convert youth attraction into actual votes.

This special report unpacks the potential of political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor to act as the 'X-factor' in the upcoming Bihar elections, with analysts debating his impact on the ruling NDA and the opposition Mahagathbandhan. According to Yashwant Deshmukh, 'while data suggests that 7 out of 10 voters of Prashant Kishore are coming from NDA camp, it looks like he is hurting the NDA, but in practical ways, more ways than one, it might be a net loss to the Mahagadbandhan.' The discussion, featuring Rajdeep Sardesai, delves into whether Kishor's Jan Suraaj party can cut across traditional caste loyalties to attract young and anti-incumbency votes. The panel analyses if his appeal is limited to male youth and upper castes, or if he can truly disrupt the established political dynamics dominated by figures like Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav, and the strategic importance of BJP's Samrat Chaudhary.

A significant political confrontation has erupted on the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused past Congress governments of a 'spineless approach' on national security, asserting that Jawaharlal Nehru prevented Patel's desire to unite Kashmir. The Congress countered, with party president Mallikarjun Kharge demanding an RSS ban, citing Patel's historical actions against the organization. This report investigates the debate over historical claims concerning Kashmir, Article 370, and Patel's legacy, alongside government statements on successes against Left-Wing Extremism. Prime Minister Modi's address also addressed infiltrators ('ghuspetias') and Naxalism. Additionally, Professor Makhanlal presented a claim regarding Nehru's historical perspective. Concurrently, escalating political violence in poll-bound Bihar includes the murder of Jan Suraaj party supporter Dularchand Yadav in Mokama. The FIR names JDU leader Anant Singh, prompting accusations of a return to 'Jungle Raj' amid heightened tensions between the JD(U), RJD, and Jan Suraaj.

The top focus of this episode of To The Point is the big battle for Bihar.  The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Friday released its poll manifesto or the Sankalp Patra for the Bihar assembly elections.

This special report from Bihar unpacks two dominant themes of the 2025 election: the battle for political lineage and the raw power of 'Bahubali' politics. The bulletin covers the manifesto war between the NDA and Mahagathbandhan and features exclusive interviews with Dr. Jagruti Thakur, granddaughter of socialist icon Karpoori Thakur, and Shivani Shukla, the UK-educated daughter of jailed strongman Munna Shukla. When asked about her father's controversial legacy, RJD candidate Shivani Shukla stated, 'One can only become Bahubali when people are there with that person, with all their strength. And if that makes any person a Bahubali, and if I am taking that legacy, then I am proud to have that.' The report contrasts her stance with Dr. Jagruti Thakur's fight to reclaim her grandfather's principles of social justice, highlighting the complex political landscape of Bihar.

This special report delves into the political battlefield of the upcoming Bihar elections, focusing on the strategic moves by the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan. The programme analyses the candidacies of incumbent Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, and the emerging influence of political strategist Prashant Kishor. 'If you announce Nitish Kumar as the CM face of the NDA, then this 1/3 voters or supporters of BJP have an outlet in upper caste candidates who have been fielded by Janasuraj,' explains political analyst Amitabh Tiwari. The discussion covers the NDA's 'Sankalp Patra', which promises 1 crore jobs and the expansion of the 'Lakhpati Didi' scheme. It also examines Tejashwi Yadav's growing appeal among the youth, buoyed by his performance during his 17-month tenure, and how Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj party could potentially split the anti-incumbency vote.

This special report delves into the complexities of the youth vote in the Bihar elections, focusing on the electoral battle between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan, and the notable influence of Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj movement. The discussion highlights how the youth electorate is not a monolith, but is fragmented by caste, gender, and economic concerns, with analysts like Amitabh Tiwari and Sajjan Kumar weighing in. According to Amitabh Tiwari, 'So the youth vote is getting split or also attracted towards Prashant Kishore or Jansuraj because he is largely talked about unemployment, migration and is also targeted the educational status of Tejashwi Yadav.' The programme explores how competing promises on employment, with Tejashwi Yadav promising 10 lakh government jobs and the NDA offering wider job opportunities, shaped the political discourse. The analysis further examines how these factors, combined with leadership perceptions and the specific appeal of Nitish Kumar to women voters, created a scattered and unpredictable youth vote bank.

This special report focuses on a violent mob attack on Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) candidate and sitting MLA, Anil Kumar, in Bihar's Gaya district during an election campaign. The BJP strongly condemned the incident, with a party spokesperson warning that this is 'Jungle Raj reloading'. The attack occurred in Dighora village when Kumar was campaigning for the Tikkari Assembly seat. Visuals show his vehicle being smashed with stones and bricks by angry villagers, who were reportedly furious over the non-construction of a local road they had been demanding for years. Kumar and some of his supporters sustained minor injuries in the assault. Police later swung into action, detaining several individuals who were caught on camera pelting stones at the MLA's convoy.

This edition of Election Despatch delves into the political landscape of Bihar ahead of the two-phase assembly elections, which will be held in November.

In an exclusive interview with India Today, Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary affirmed that Nitish Kumar is and will remain the state's Chief Minister, stating there is 'no vacancy' for the position.

Jan Suraaj Party leader Prashant Kishor is under the scanner after the Election Commission found that he was enrolled as a voter in two states, Bihar and West Bengal. Now, the Election Commission has sent him a notice seeking explanations. issued him a notice for allegedly being enrolled as a voter in two states, Bihar and West Bengal. The issue was highlighted by BJP's Amit Malviya, who pointed out that Kishor is registered in both states, which is against electoral law. According to official records, Kishor is registered in Bihar's Sasaram constituency and also at the address of the Trinamool Congress headquarters in Kolkata. The Election Commission has demanded a clarification from Kishor within three days. The controversy emerges as Kishor's Jan Suraaj party prepares for elections in Bihar.

This special report focuses on the escalating political battle in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections, with the Mahagathbandhan officially naming Tejashwi Yadav as its Chief Ministerial candidate. Prashant Kishor of the Jan Suraj party attacked the decision, stating, 'if Jangar Raj returns, Tejasvi will become chief minister.' The BJP also criticized the move, reminding voters of the IRCTC and fodder scam cases. Simultaneously, Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraj party is facing major setbacks, with several candidates withdrawing their nominations ahead of the polls, which Kishor has alleged is due to intimidation and coercion by the BJP. These developments occur just as the deadline for nomination withdrawals for the Bihar polls comes to a close.