Strategist To Stellar Debut: Prashant Kishor Set For New Innings Of A Game He Has Already Mastered

Published 3 August 2026 · local

Strategist To Stellar Debut: Prashant Kishor Set For New Innings Of A Game He Has Already Mastered Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: August 03

Strategist To Stellar Debut: Prashant Kishor Set For New Innings Of A Game He Has Already Mastered Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: August 03, 2026, 18:18 IST Prashant Kishore (PK) has won many elections for many political parties. He knows the game. He knows what clicks and chooses his fights Rapid Read Prashant Kishor (PK) thanked Bankipur after the results. (X) Prashant Kishor, the political strategist, would often be seen meeting people in coffee shops of five-star hotels in Delhi. But PK, the neta, can now be seen in a thatched makeshift accommodation called Jan Bihar Navnirman Ashram. He shifted here post the Bihar results from the sprawling temporary accommodation in Sheikhpura Palace. This shifting of home has deep meaning. It shows PK has decided that he needs to project himself as someone who will cut the frills and offer hope.

Not many took him seriously during the Bihar polls, dismissing him as a media creation and someone who spoke about jobs and casteless politics in a state where litti chokha and caste are staple diet. But during the Bihar state polls, he tried to present a new narrative. That why nobody should have to leave Bihar. Why are Biharis spoken of in a derogatory manner? Why are there no jobs and industries in Bihar? But PK, as he is called, made the mistake of not leading from the front. He didn’t contest and this was seen as a black mark. But the ace political strategist learnt his mistake. With a few of his leaders leaving the party, PK realised he would need to do something. And hence he decided to fight from the Bharatiya Janata Party stronghold and the high prestige seat of Bankipur which was vacated by BJP president Nitin Nabin.

PK’s raga during the by-election campaigns came at a time when the student protests were going on in Delhi. Did this have an impact on PK’s chances? Possibly, considering that Bankipur is an urban seat and Patna University falls in the area. It’s seen as a setback to the BJP for sure, but also to principal opposition parties like the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress, which clearly were not seen as the alternative. PK has won many elections for many political parties. He knows the game. He knows what clicks and chooses his fights. Maybe he sensed the change. The story of PK, the political strategist, is over, but a new journey as a neta has begun. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Pallavi Ghosh Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage.