Prashant Kishor is a prominent Indian political strategist and tactician, renowned for his innovative and effective campaign strategies. Born on March 20, 1977, in the state of Bihar, Kishor initially trained as a public health expert before venturing into political consultancy. He gained significant attention and acclaim for his role in Narendra Modi’s successful campaign during the 2014 Indian general elections, where his strategic insights and data-driven approach played a pivotal role in Modi's resounding victory.
Following this success, Kishor established the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), which has become one of India’s leading political consultancy firms. Under his leadership, I-PAC has managed several high-profile campaigns across various states, including those for Nitish Kumar in Bihar, Amarinder Singh in Punjab, and Jagan Mohan Reddy in Andhra Pradesh. His innovative use of technology, grassroots engagement, and meticulous planning has earned him a reputation as a game-changer in Indian politics.
Kishor briefly ventured into active politics by joining the Janata Dal (United) in 2018, but he soon returned to his consultancy role.
As Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay and Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor emerge as influential political voices, panellists discuss whether India is witnessing the rise of a credible alternative to traditional parties. The discussion explores changing voter expectations, the appeal of regional and issue-based politics, and whether new-age leaders can challenge the dominance of established political formations. Experts also examine whether public sentiment is shifting towards fresh leadership ahead of upcoming electoral battles.
Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition Udayanidhi Stalin was released on station bail in Sengipatti, Thanjavur.
The monsoon session of Parliament faced continued deadlock as opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party and Congress, protested allegations surrounding the Ram Temple donation controversy and police actions against student protesters. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav conducted a protest at Makar Door, while Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge requested statements from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju rejected these demands. Concurrently, Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal held a sit-in demonstration following a blocked march to the Prime Minister's residence, demanding a rollback of the E20 ethanol-blended petrol policy, which the central government defended as a domestic energy security measure. In judicial news, the Supreme Court ruled that Section 498A protection against domestic cruelty applies to live-in relationships that resemble marriage. Meanwhile, student hunger strikes over recruitment scams in Jharkhand reached their eleventh day ahead of a planned assembly gherao. Additionally, Jan Suraaj leader Prashant Kishor criticized Bihar political leaders, and a scientific report detailed biological factors influencing mosquito bites.
In an interview with India Today after winning the Bankipur constituency, Jan Suraaj Party leader Prashant Kishor discussed breaching the BJP's thirty-year-old stronghold.
The BJP said it would introspect after its bypoll setbacks, while a panel discussion examined whether Prashant Kishor's Bankipur victory marks the emergence of a new political force capable of reshaping Bihar's electoral landscape.
Jan Suraaj chief Prashant Kishor held a victory roadshow in Patna after winning the Bankipur Assembly bypoll, as jubilant party workers celebrated the breakthrough victory with slogans, processions and a large turnout of supporters.
Prashant Kishor has won from Bankipur, a seat the BJP had held for over three decades.
Jan Suraaj chief Prashant Kishor won the Bankipur Assembly bypoll, marking a major political breakthrough in Bihar, while heavy monsoon rains continued to batter several states, triggering floods, disruption and widespread damage.
Just a week after the Gen Z-led movement at Jantar Mantar and Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, Bihar is witnessing its first election since the protests.
In an India Today Democratic Newsroom broadcast hosted by Akshita Gopal, young journalists, anchors, and producers join a Gen Z roundtable alongside senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai to analyse student protests in Delhi.
In this special edition of To The Point, host Preeti Choudhry examines the political firestorm in West Bengal following Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on the offices of IPAC and the residence of its head, Pratik Jain. The raids, linked to a 2020 coal scam case involving Anoop Majhi, took place just three months before the 2026 state elections.
On this Special Report of 'To The Point', host Preeti Choudhury examines the political firestorm in West Bengal following Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on the offices of IPAC and the residence of its head, Pratik Jain. The raids, linked to a 2020 coal scam case involving Anoop Majhi, took place just three months before the 2026 state elections. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sparked controversy by entering the IPAC premises during the operation and leaving with files, an act the BJP termed as 'obstructing an ongoing investigation'. Banerjee hit back, stating, 'Because of election, they are collecting all my information of my party.' The programme features a debate between TMC spokesperson Tauseef Rehman, BJP's Tuhin Sinha, and analyst Shikha Mukherjee regarding the alleged weaponisation of central agencies. The discussion highlights the long-standing association between the TMC and IPAC, originally founded by Prashant Kishor, and the pattern of agency actions occurring shortly before major Indian elections.
In a wide-ranging interview on India Today's 'UnPolitics' with Preeti Choudhry, RJD Rajya Sabha MP and National Spokesperson Manoj Kumar Jha discusses his political career, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and the future of the RJD.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses the Parliament, defending the 2025 Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls. Shah rebuts Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's 'vote theft' allegations made in a November 5 press conference, terming them a 'fake nuclear bomb'. He cites the 1995 Supreme Court judgment in 'Lal Babu Hussain vs Electoral Registration Officer' to justify the removal of non-citizens from voter lists. Shah also alleges that opposition leaders like Tejashwi Yadav and Sanjay Singh hold votes in multiple constituencies. He asserts that the revision is a necessary process to maintain the sanctity of elections and criticizes the 2010 decision that restricted Returning Officers' powers.
In an exclusive interview with India Today, Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor discusses his party's recent electoral defeat in Bihar, his future political strategy, and his firm stance on alliances. Kishor reiterates that his political platform, Jansuraj, will not be compromised by aligning with other parties like the Congress or RJD, and announces his return to public life with a 'yatra' starting from January 15. Responding to those writing his political obituary after the loss, Kishor stated, 'The people who are writing my obituary, the people who are making fun of me, they are the ones who are most bothered to talk to them, to interview them. So, that shows that I am not dead yet'. He also reflects on the lessons from failure and references Kanshi Ram's theory on electoral battles.
Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor discusses the political landscape of Bihar, questioning the health of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and reaffirming his commitment to his 10-year plan for the state. Kishor addresses his previous attacks on key political figures, including Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, and states his intention to pursue legal action against him. When asked how he would follow up on the grave charges he made against Samrat Choudhary, Prashant Kishor said, 'Bilkul jaenge court Mein move karenge' (' will absolutely go, will move the court'). The interview also touches upon Kishor's electoral predictions and his distinction between electoral victory and the validation of a politician's character, citing the conviction of Lalu Prasad Yadav in the fodder scam despite his past electoral wins.
Jan Suraaj founder and former election strategist Prashant Kishor on Sunday addressed his party’s complete wipeout in the Bihar Assembly elections, alleging that the polls were “rigged”—while conceding he currently has no evidence to substantiate the claim. Kishor described the defeat as “crushing” but maintained that his campaign had strong grassroots momentum. He said the official voting pattern did not align with the feedback and support observed during his months-long Jan Suraaj yatra, suggesting that “something went wrong” in the process.
Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor analyses his party's electoral defeat in the recent Bihar Assembly polls, where it failed to win a single seat. Kishor details three primary reasons for the loss: the state government's unprecedented distribution of ₹10,000 to women voters with a promise of ₹2 lakh, the lingering fear of 'Lalu's Jungle Raj' which consolidated votes for the NDA, and suspected electoral malpractices which he terms an 'invisible force'. Kishor states, 'Never in India's 75-year history has a government bought the votes of crores of poor families for ₹10,000 each… If I am wrong, let the government file a case against me and put me in jail'. He also points to irregularities in the voting process and data, such as the non-release of Form 17C data for days and unusual voting patterns, but admits he lacks concrete proof of manipulation.
KC Sinha — the maths professor generations grew up studying, the man who taught Prashant Kishor, the author of 60+ books — contested from Kumhrar and lost.
Prashant Kishor, after his Jan Suraaj Party’s poor performance in the recent Bihar Assembly elections, observed a day-long silent fast at Mahatma Gandhi’s historic Bhitiharwa Ashram in West Champaran
