Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) has reportedly terminated around 1,300 staff members of its consultancy wing, Jan Suraaj Professional Consultancy Private Limited (JSPT), who were hired ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. The layoffs, carried out in November and December 2025, followed the party’s poor performance, failing to secure even one of the 243 Assembly seats.

The employees were informed via video conferencing and verbal announcements, with partial settlements of pending salaries. While some received payments by December 31, many staffers are still awaiting dues. Former employees expressed frustration, citing non-disclosure agreements that prevented them from joining similar poll-related organisations and worried about career setbacks due to the party’s failure.

The recruitment drive, initiated five months before the elections, aimed to support JSP candidates across constituencies. Staffers were assigned to campaign tasks at district and constituency levels. However, many claimed they were not informed that their employment would be short-term, leading to feelings of abandonment and resentment towards the party leadership.

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The first round of retrenchment took place on November 23-24, followed by another on December 12, leaving employees angry at the abrupt manner of termination. Some staff reportedly vandalised the JSPT office in Patna in protest, highlighting the intensity of dissatisfaction over unpaid salaries and sudden dismissals.

JSP media in-charge Obaidur Rahman clarified that the layoffs were due to the election-specific nature of the roles, stating, “They were to work for different Assembly constituencies to support party candidates. Now they are not needed, hence have been laid off.” Meanwhile, the party has begun reviewing its organisational structure and performance for future elections.

JSP Bihar state president Manoj Bharti acknowledged internal and external factors behind the electoral loss, including weak grassroots presence, late candidate announcements, and alleged misinformation campaigns by rival parties. The party is now focusing on reconstituting units at village and panchayat levels, along with a membership drive, while also challenging the Election Commission’s role in the elections through a Supreme Court petition.

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