Prashant Kishor vs BJP in Bankipur Byelection; Candidate Withdraws
The Bankipur Assembly byelection in Bihar, India, scheduled for July 30, 2026, has become a high-stakes contest after Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor announced his electoral debut. The BJP initially fielded Abhishek Kumar, but he withdrew amid allegations of financial impropriety, replaced by Neeraj Kumar Sinha. The RJD also fielded Rekha Gupta. Kishor framed the election as a referendum on the state BJP government. Bankipur, a BJP stronghold for decades, fell vacant after Nitin Nabin moved to Rajya Sabha.
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Several Jan Suraaj leaders join BJP ahead of Bihar’s Bankipur byelection
On July 15, 2026, several leaders from Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Patna, Bihar, ahead of the Bankipur Assembly byelection scheduled for July 30. Those inducted include renowned mathematician K.C. Sinha, who contested from Kumhrar, and Ritesh Ranjan alias Bittu Singh, who contested from Digha in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. Also joining were Gopal Singh (former Maner candidate) and Jan Suraaj's Kisan Morcha district president Braj Kishore Sinha. BJP Bihar President Sanjay Saraogi welcomed them, citing inspiration from PM Modi's policies. The defectors criticized Jan Suraaj's leadership, with Gopal Singh calling it 'arrogant' and lacking vision. The Bankipur bypoll will see a direct contest between Prashant Kishor and BJP nominee Neeraj Kumar Sinha.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Prashant Kishor Declares Assets Over ₹208 Crore, Eight Criminal Cases Pending in Bankipur By-Election
Prashant Kishor, founder of the Jan Suraaj Party and former poll strategist, filed his nomination for the Bankipur assembly by-election in Patna on July 13, 2026. Along with his wife Jahanvi Das, he declared total movable and immovable assets of over ₹208 crore. Kishor's assets include a 100% controlling stake in Vedhas Ventures Private Limited, which donated ₹85 crore to his party. He has eight pending criminal cases, mostly related to unlawful assembly, but has not been convicted. The BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha also filed nomination, with senior NDA leaders present. The by-election was necessitated after Nitin Nabin was elected to Rajya Sabha. Polling is set for July 30, with vote counting on August 3.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.BJP's Neeraj Kumar Sinha Meets Nitish Kumar Ahead of Bankipur Byelection
BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha met former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at his official residence in Patna on July 12, 2026, to seek blessings ahead of the Bankipur Assembly byelection. The seat fell vacant after Nitin Nabin was elected to the Rajya Sabha. Sinha, a grassroots party worker, expressed gratitude to BJP leadership and vowed to carry forward Nabin's development legacy. He is pitted against Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor. Sinha also attended a meeting with the Mithapur Business Association, pledging to address traders' issues, improve infrastructure, and enhance security. Both candidates are scheduled to file nomination papers on July 13, 2026. Sinha expressed confidence in an NDA victory, citing the achievements of Prime Minister Modi, former CM Nitish Kumar, and CM Samrat Choudhary.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.BJP Candidate Withdraws from Bankipur Bypoll, Party Replaces Him
In an embarrassing development for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its candidate Abhishek Kumar alias Bunty withdrew his candidature from the Bankipur Assembly bypoll on July 10, 2026, just one day after filing his nomination. Party insiders considered Bunty a weak candidate against Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) founder Prashant Kishor. There were also allegations that Kishor possessed documents regarding Bunty's dubious financial transactions, which forced the withdrawal. The BJP quickly announced Neeraj Kumar Sinha as the replacement candidate. Bankipur, a BJP stronghold held by the party since 1995, fell vacant after former MLA Nitin Nabin was elected to Rajya Sabha. Prashant Kishor, who will file his nomination on July 13, claimed this was the first time a BJP candidate had 'fled' from a contest. Polling is scheduled for July 30 with counting on August 3.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Bankipur bypoll: voters say the battle will be between BJP and JSP
Ahead of the July 30 by-election for the Bankipur Assembly constituency in Patna, voters indicate the main contest will be between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Abhishek Kumar Sinha and Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) founder Prashant Kishor. The seat fell vacant after sitting BJP MLA Nitin Nabin was elected to the Rajya Sabha. Bankipur has been a BJP stronghold for nine consecutive terms, but some long-time BJP voters express disillusionment with the party and suggest Kishor could cut into the BJP's vote share. The RJD has fielded Rekha Gupta again. The constituency has about 4 lakh voters, dominated by Kayastha and Vaishya communities. The by-election result will be declared on August 3.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Prashant Kishor calls Bankipur by-election a referendum on BJP government in Bihar
Prashant Kishor, founder of Jan Suraaj Party (JSP), has declared the upcoming by-election for the Bankipur Assembly seat in Bihar a 'referendum' on the state's BJP government. The by-poll, scheduled for July 30 with results on August 3, was necessitated after sitting BJP MLA Nitin Nabin vacated the seat upon being elected party national president and then to Rajya Sabha. The BJP has nominated youth leader Abhishek Kumar, while the RJD has retained Rekha Kumari. Tej Pratap Yadav's Janashakti Janata Dal has fielded Veena Manvi. Kishor, whose party failed to win any seats in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections despite a 3% vote share, is making his electoral debut. The BJP dismissed Kishor's claims, stating he was 'thoroughly exposed' in the previous elections. Bankipur, a traditional BJP stronghold with a significant Kayastha and Vaishya voter base, has been represented by Nitin Nabin for five consecutive terms.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.BJP fields Abhishek Kumar for Bankipur byelection in Bihar
The BJP has announced Abhishek Kumar as its candidate for the Bankipur Assembly byelection in Bihar, scheduled for July 30, 2026, with vote counting on August 3. The vacancy arose after BJP national president Nitin Nabin resigned as MLA to become a Rajya Sabha member. The Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor is also contesting from the seat, marking his electoral debut. The RJD has fielded Rekha Gupta, ending speculation that the Mahagathbandhan might support Kishor. The byelection is a key contest in Bihar politics.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Jan Suraaj Party Fields Prashant Kishor for Bankipore Assembly Byelection
The Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) has announced that its founder, Prashant Kishor, will contest the upcoming byelection for the Bankipore Assembly constituency in Bihar. The decision was made unanimously by the party's core committee and confirmed by state president Manoj Bharti at a press conference in Patna. The seat became vacant after the incumbent, Nitin Nabin, was elected to the Rajya Sabha. The Election Commission of India has scheduled the notification for July 6, with nominations due by July 13. Polling will take place on July 30, and counting of votes on August 3. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has held the Bankipore seat continuously since the 1990s, expressed confidence in retaining it. This marks Kishor's direct entry into electoral politics after years as a political strategist.
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