Arrogance or Misstep? PK Alienates Friends and Foes Alike

rashant Kishore, the  Jan Suraaj Party supremo and political strategist, finds himself at the center of a controversy after a viral video captured him clashing with protesting students in Patna. The students, angered by police lathi charges during their demonstration against the BPSC exam paper leak, demanded Kishore leave the scene. His remark, “You take blankets from us and have the guts to shout at me,” further inflamed tensions, highlighting the challenges Kishore faces in connecting with Bihar’s masses despite his padyatra and political aspirations.

BY PC Bureau

Patna erupted in controversy on Monday night as a viral video showcased Jan Suraaj Party supremo Prashant Kishore embroiled in a heated exchange with a group of protesting students. The video captures Kishore chastising a student for questioning him, despite having received blankets from his party earlier in the day. The incident has sparked widespread criticism and raised questions about Kishore’s leadership style and ability to connect with the people of Bihar.

The controversy began when students in Patna staged a demonstration demanding the cancellation of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination. They alleged that the examination papers had been leaked, a claim that brought into sharp focus long-standing concerns about corruption and mismanagement in Bihar’s public institutions.

प्रशांत जी ख़ुद नया नेता बने हैं, और छात्रों को धमका रहे हैं, अपनी औक़ात का धौंस दिखा रहे हैं!

आज जब धेले भर की चुनावी औक़ात नहीं है तो अहंकार टपक रहा है,छात्रों के सामने बड़ी बड़ी सरकार उड़ गई,आप क्या चीज़ हैं?

छात्र पुलिस से पिट रहे थे आप पीठ दिखा भाग गये, सवाल पूछने पर गाली? pic.twitter.com/OFM7w5oxxc

— Pappu Yadav (@pappuyadavjapl) December 30, 2024

As the protest intensified, the Patna police resorted to a lathi charge, injuring several demonstrators. Later in the night, Kishore and Suraj Party leaders visited the injured students, ostensibly to express solidarity. However, the gesture quickly backfired when the students, upset over Kishore’s absence during the protest and police action, demanded that he leave.

Tensions escalated when Kishore, visibly losing his composure, snapped at a student, saying, “You take blankets from us and have the guts to shout at me.” The comment, perceived as condescending and dismissive, enraged the already frustrated students. Many shouted back at Kishore, further escalating the confrontation. The incident ended with Kishore being asked to leave amidst jeers, a public relations disaster for the Suraj Party leader.

The Fallout: Kishore’s Misreading of Bihar’s Psyche

Kishore’s reaction to the students’ criticism has been widely condemned as tone-deaf and emblematic of his failure to understand the ethos of Bihar’s people. A senior journalist in Patna remarked, “Bihar’s people can endure hunger, suffering, and poverty, but they won’t tolerate insult. Prashant Kishore has yet to grasp this fundamental truth.”

The viral video has reinforced the perception that Kishore’s leadership style is marked by arrogance and a lack of sensitivity. His words struck a nerve in a state where respect and dignity hold as much value as political promises.

A Troubled Journey in Bihar Politics

Kishore’s foray into Bihar’s political landscape has been anything but smooth. After more than two years of active political engagement and covering hundreds of kilometers during his much-publicized padyatra, he has struggled to build a strong rapport with the masses. His party candidate lost four recent assembly by-polls—losing deposit in three cases, and also dared badly in the council poll.

The Suraj Party, envisioned as a platform for change and a challenge to the entrenched regimes of Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar, has failed to gain significant traction. Internal dissent within the party has further weakened its prospects. High-profile resignations, including those of former Union Minister D.P. Yadav and senior Muslim leader Monazir Hasan, have laid bare the cracks in Kishore’s leadership.

Critics attribute these defections to Kishore’s domineering style and his reluctance to allow other leaders to emerge within the party. A political observer noted, “Kishore’s one-man show has alienated not just the public but also his own colleagues. This is not the way to build a political movement.”

A Reputation for Arrogance

The incident in Patna is not an isolated case. Kishore’s confidence, often perceived as overconfidence, has been a recurring theme throughout his political career. From challenging established political heavyweights to making bold and often contentious predictions about election outcomes, Kishore’s approach has frequently rubbed people the wrong way.

In Bihar, his reputation for “arrogance” has become a significant liability. Even journalists who once viewed him as a potential game-changer now voice concerns about his approach. “If Kishore does not change his attitude and shed his arrogance, he will learn a big lesson in the coming assembly polls,” warned a senior journalist.

The Larger Implications: Alienation and Loss of Credibility

The fallout from the Patna incident underscores a deeper issue: Kishore’s inability to connect with the very people he aims to represent. His remarks to the protesting students, coupled with his perceived absence during their moment of need, have damaged his credibility.

For a leader who aspires to bring change, this disconnect could prove fatal to his political ambitions. Bihar’s political landscape is fraught with challenges, and any leader who fails to understand the psyche of its people risks irrelevance.

A Crisis of Leadership

Kishore’s leadership style has also come under scrutiny within his party. His reluctance to empower other leaders and his insistence on controlling every aspect of the party’s functioning have created a culture of discontent. The resignations of senior leaders like D.P. Yadav and Monazir Hasan are symptomatic of a larger problem.

A senior journalist remarked, “Kishore talks about change, but he hasn’t changed his approach. His inability to trust others and his tendency to dominate every discussion have driven many capable leaders away.”

प्रशांत किशोर ने कहा- पप्पू यादव जैसे लोगों का जवाब मैं नहीं देता. मेरे दरवाजे पर आकर गिड़गिड़ाते हैं कि भईया हमको मदद कीजिये. हाथ जोड़ कर गुहार लगाते हैं और अब बड़ा बड़ा बयान दे रहे हैं. सुबह में कुछ बोलना है और शाम में कुछ और. #BPSC #BPSC70th #BPSCReExamForAll #BPSC_PAPER_LEAK pic.twitter.com/zRggFLFNBw

— FirstBiharJharkhand (@firstbiharnews) December 30, 2024

What Lies Ahead for Kishore and the Suraj Party?

The road ahead for Prashant Kishore and his Suraj Party is uncertain. While Kishore’s padyatra and his promise of change initially garnered attention, incidents like the one in Patna have tarnished his image.

To salvage his political career, Kishore must undergo a significant transformation. He needs to shed his perceived arrogance, adopt a more inclusive leadership style, and genuinely connect with the people of Bihar. Without these changes, his vision for Bihar risks becoming another failed political experiment.

A Lesson in Humility

The Patna incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges Kishore faces in his political journey. For a strategist known for his ability to craft winning campaigns for others, his own political campaign has been marred by missteps and miscalculations.

Whether this incident serves as a wake-up call or marks another chapter in Kishore’s troubled political journey remains to be seen. One thing is clear: in Bihar, respect is earned, not demanded, and Kishore has a long way to go in earning it.