Bettiah: Prashant Kishor’s day-long silent fast at the historic Bhitiharwa Gandhi Ashram continued into Wednesday evening, with Jan Suraaj leaders framing the exercise as a moment of introspection following the party’s poor showing in the Bihar Assembly elections. Kishor will conclude the fast on Thursday morning at 11am, when he is expected to address both the media and supporters.
Kishor began the fast earlier in the day after offering floral tributes at the ashram, a site closely associated with Mahatma Gandhi’s Satyagraha movement. Throughout Wednesday, party workers, district representatives and several Jan Suraaj candidates gathered at the venue, where preparations for the silent vigil had been made since morning.
With Kishor maintaining silence, Jan Suraaj state president Manoj Bharti spoke on his behalf, acknowledging that the party had failed to clearly articulate its mission during the campaign. “We worked for three years on issues such as education, employment and migration, but our message did not reach people in a complete and coherent way,” Bharti said. “This fast is neither a political protest nor a show of strength. It is introspection and atonement.”
Bharti added that the leadership accepts responsibility for the failure to connect with voters and sees the fast as the first step toward rebuilding communication and trust. “We will return to the districts, return to the people, and explain our movement in a simpler and more honest manner,” he said.
Despite the disappointing electoral outcome, Bharti emphasised that Jan Suraaj would continue to act as a “responsible public voice” and would monitor the new government’s performance. “Our struggle is not over. We will ensure that the promises made to Bihar are not forgotten,” he said.
Kishor is expected to outline the party’s next course of action once he breaks his silence on Thursday morning.
