Prashant Kishor, founder of the Jan Suraaj Party, said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is not mentally or physically fit to lead the state.
These allegations signal a deepening rift between the political strategist and the state's long-term leadership. By questioning Kumar's fitness and the integrity of his administration, Kishor is attempting to frame the current government as a liability to Bihar's future.
Kishor made these remarks during a press interaction at Gandhi Ashram in West Champaran and in televised interviews. He said that Nitish Kumar is responsible for his own political setbacks and the current state of the administration. During a statement on Nov. 21, 2025, Kishor said the new cabinet of the Nitish Kumar government is full of corrupt and criminal leaders [2].
Despite these criticisms, Kishor said in a separate interview that Kumar appears ready to govern Bihar for five more years [1]. This contradiction highlights the tension between Kumar's perceived political ambition and his actual capacity to lead effectively, according to Kishor.
Kishor has linked the high voter turnout in recent elections to a desire for change. He said that Nitish Kumar is "on his way out" because of this turnout [3]. He further tied his own electoral setbacks to the decisions made by Kumar's administration.
In a December 2025 warning, Kishor said that if the results are not favorable, he will quit politics altogether [3]. He continues to argue that the appointment of a cabinet riddled with corruption has accelerated the political decline of the chief minister.
“"Nitish Kumar is not mentally and physically fit to continue as Chief Minister."”
Kishor's strategy shifts the focus from policy disagreements to the personal and moral fitness of the Chief Minister. By labeling the cabinet as criminal and the leader as unfit, he is positioning the Jan Suraaj Party as the only ethical alternative for voters who are disillusioned with the current administration's stability.
