Political heat in Bihar is now on the rise after the Election Commission of India announced the schedule of Bihar Assembly Elections 2025. The elections will be conducted in two phases on November 6 and November 11,counting and results will take place on November 14.
As political parties rush to finalise candidates, everyone’s eyes are on one person: Prashant Kishor who is popularly known as PK, the election mastermind who made politicians winners and now wants to test his own fortune at the polls. The founder of the Jan Suraaj Party will make his debut in the polls this time, but the greatest suspense continues: Where will Prashant Kishor contest: Raghopur or Kargahar or anywhere else?
Raghopur-A key seat
Raghopur has enormous significance in the political history of Bihar. Situated in Vaishali district, the assembly constituency has been the bastion of the Yadav political dynasty for a long time. It was here that Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, and now Tejashwi Yadav, their son, have sculpted their political lives.
Lalu Prasad Yadav has won from Raghopur twice, Rabri Devi three times, and Tejashwi Yadav has been holding the seat since 2015. RJD lost the seat once in 2010, when JD(U)’s Satish Kumar Yadav had beaten Rabri Devi. Presently, Satish Kumar is with the BJP, whereas Tejashwi is the current MLA.
For Prashant Kishor, running from Raghopur would be political only to a point, it would also be a symbolic battle with Bihar’s most powerful political dynasty. It would make him the man opposing the center of RJD’s stronghold, and by default, Bihar’s traditional caste politics.
Such a contest would immediately make Raghopur the 2025 Bihar elections’ epicentre, attracting national media spotlight. Strategist against scion, ideology against legacy, and governance against dynasty, a battle that might determine Kishor’s political destiny.
Will Prashant Kishor Make Tejashwi Yadav Fight Tooth and Nail?
If Prashant Kishor goes down the Raghopur path, Tejashwi Yadav may have his most serious political test so far.
Over the past decade, Tejashwi has managed to consolidate RJD’s core vote bank among Yadavs and Muslims, while emerging as the face of the INDIA bloc in Bihar.
However, Kishor’s entry could disrupt this equation. His campaign themes of governance, youth empowerment, and alternative politics resonate with urban and first-time voters, especially those disillusioned with both the RJD and JD(U)-BJP alliances.
Political analysts think that a PK vs Tejashwi contest would be the most keenly contested fight in the state, a battle between a professional tactician with a technocratic vision and an old-school political charismatic young dynasty.
Even a close contest in Raghopur can make Jan Suraaj a strong third front in Bihar, setting the stage for its long-term political development.
Kargahar: An emotional Connection to His Roots
While Raghopur offers high visibility, Kargahar in Rohtas district gives Prashant Kishor an emotional and personal anchor. The seat falls under the Sasaram Lok Sabha constituency, and it’s Kishor’s birthplace his ‘janmbhoomi’.
In interviews, Kishor has repeatedly said that politicians should ideally contest from either their birthplace or their workplace to maintain credibility with voters.
For me, Kargahar is my janmabhoomi, and Raghopur like the rest of Bihar is my karmabhoomi,” he once stated.
Established in 2008, Kargahar has a less consolidated political past than that of Raghopur. The seat has been won twice by the JD(U) and once by the Congress. Its present MLA, Santosh Kumar Mishra of Congress, is not labeled a political bigwig.
This makes Kargahar a tactically more secure seat for PK. Filing nominations from this place would enable him to emphasize his base-level appeal, construct a natural voter base, and keep away from the massive caste polarization that characterizes central Bihar politics.
It would also enable Kishor to present himself as a son of the earth, going back to his roots to reform Bihar from scratch an appeal resonating with Jan Suraaj’s emphasis on decentralisation and cleanshaven governance.
Will He Fight On Both Seats?
Coincidentally, Prashant Kishor has repeatedly been a votary of leaders fighting two seats, one from their roots and the second representing their constituency.
By that rationale, Kishor could opt to fight from both Kargahar and Raghopur, mixing emotional appeal with political aspiration.
Such a double contest would not only enhance his visibility but also show his determination to confront Bihar’s most daunting political challenges head-on.
But challenging two seats also has a risk factor it may come across as overconfidence or indecision. But for a player like PK, who is renowned for measured actions, such an act might prove to be a masterstroke to check his political muscle in different regions.
What It Means for Tejashwi Yadav and Bihar Politics?
A Prashant Kishor vs Tejashwi Yadav showdown would be a clash of two generations and two ideologies.Tejashwi personifies Bihar’s legacy politics caste and identity-defined. Kishor personifies the concept of a new Bihar governance, youth engagement, and people’s democracy.
If Kishor were to contest Raghopur, it would compel RJD to come out of its comfort zone and battle for its stronghold with added vigor. Even if he loses narrowly, the election could dramatically enhance Jan Suraaj’s political capital across the state.
It would also unsettle established players such as Nitish Kumar, whom Kishor has referred to as a “backdoor leader” a reflection on the Kumar administration’s dependence on political realignments as opposed to mass mandates.
Simply put, PK’s electoral foray has already altered the narrative in Bihar. His choice whether to take on Tejashwi in Raghopur or strengthen his base in Kargahar will define the state’s political narrative in the years ahead.
Will His Wife Jahnavi Das Join Politics?
In the midst of all the speculation about his foray into politics, another question doing the rounds is: Will Prashant Kishor’s wife, Dr. Jahnavi Das, join politics as well?
Dr. Das, a doctor from Guwahati, Assam, met Kishor while working on a United Nations health program years ago. The two fell in love, got married, and now reside in Bihar with their son.
She has remained mostly absent from the public eye, but Kishor has regularly attributed her backing as the cause of his ability to tour all over Bihar for his 2022-started Jan Suraaj Yatra.
I can do this job only because a woman like her is my wife,” PK once said at a public rally in Patna. “She abandoned her doctorate for the sake of our family and motivated me to come back to Bihar and serve the people.
Dr. Das currently focuses on family responsibilities and has no political ambitions, according to sources in the Jan Suraaj Party. But her quiet presence and PK’s public admiration for her have helped humanise his image portraying him not just as a technocrat or strategist, but as a grounded family man connected to his roots.
What’s coming for Jan Suraaj Party?
For the debutant Jan Suraaj Party, the 2025 elections are a defining moment. The party’s profile is dependent on Kishor’s candidacy and campaign strategy.
If he goes the bold way contesting from Raghopur it will convert Jan Suraaj into a serious political player in Bihar from a debutant outfit.
If he takes the safe route with Kargahar, the move has the potential to create the foundation for a long-term grassroots build-up, gearing up the party for future fights.
In either case, Prashant Kishor’s foray is set to redefine Bihar’s politics. His seat selection Raghopur or Kargahar will not only determine his political destiny but can also set the tone for how politics in Bihar in the post-Nitish, post-Lalu era develops.
Sofia Babu Chacko is a journalist with over five years of experience covering Indian politics, crime, human rights, gender issues, and stories about marginalized communities. She believes that every voice matters, and journalism has a vital role to play in amplifying those voices. Sofia is committed to creating impact and shedding light on stories that truly matter. Beyond her work in the newsroom, she is also a music enthusiast who enjoys singing.
