Prashant Kishor Takes Command in Bankipur By-Election: A Game Changer for Jan Suraaj?

In a surprising turn of events, Prashant Kishor of the Jan Suraaj Party has taken a commanding lead in the Bankipur Assembly by-election, outpacing his nearest rival, BJP's Neeraj Kumar Sinha, by over 6,600 votes. This election, prompted by the resignation of BJP leader Nitin Nabin, has seen Kishor emerge as a formidable contender in a constituency traditionally held by the BJP. With a voter turnout of 34.30%, the political landscape in Bihar could shift dramatically depending on the final results. As counting continues, all eyes are on whether Kishor can convert his early lead into a historic victory.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 3, 2026, 14:12 IST

Kishor's Strong Lead in Bankipur Assembly By-Election

Patna: Prashant Kishor, representing the Jan Suraaj Party, has solidified his position in the Bankipur Assembly by-election following the completion of 12 rounds of vote counting.

Competing under the 'School Bag' symbol, Kishor has amassed 23,756 votes, leading by a margin of 6,646 votes against his closest competitor.

Currently, BJP's Neeraj Kumar Sinha holds the second position with 17,110 votes, while Rekha Gupta from the RJD is in third place with 4,850 votes.

The increasing vote gap has heightened the political rivalry in Bankipur, a constituency historically dominated by the BJP.

Kishor's consistent lead has sparked significant discussions among political analysts, marking him as a formidable contender in his inaugural Assembly election.

This by-election was prompted by the resignation of BJP leader Nitin Nabin, who left the seat after being appointed as the BJP's national president and Rajya Sabha member.

The voter turnout for this election was recorded at 34.30% on July 30.

With 25 candidates vying for the position, around 1.30 lakh votes are being tallied.

The primary contest appears to be between Prashant Kishor, Neeraj Sinha from the BJP, and Rekha Gupta from the RJD.

Given the BJP's historical dominance in Bankipur, Kishor's current lead is particularly noteworthy.

A loss for the BJP could signify a significant political blow, while a win for Kishor would greatly enhance the Jan Suraaj Party's prospects in Bihar.

Bihar Assembly Speaker and senior BJP figure Dr. Prem Kumar downplayed the current trends, stating that such fluctuations are typical during vote counting.

He expressed optimism that the final results would become clearer after 3 p.m.

In contrast, JD(U) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan expressed confidence in an NDA victory, asserting that Neeraj Sinha would win by a historic margin.

He emphasized that the NDA tends to perform well when elections focus on development.

Despite trailing, the BJP has reportedly prepared around two quintals of laddoos for potential celebrations, reflecting their confidence.

Vote counting has been ongoing at AN College in Patna since 8 a.m., with votes from 422 polling stations being processed in 30 rounds across 14 tables.

Security measures around the counting center are stringent, with over 300 personnel deployed and drone surveillance in place to monitor the vicinity.

Traffic restrictions have been implemented on several roads near AN College, limiting general vehicles on routes including Boring Road Crossing to AN College, Mohini Mor to Sahdev Mahto Marg, and Pani Tanki Mor to AN College.

Dedicated routes and parking have been arranged for candidates, polling agents, and media representatives.

With 12 rounds completed, Prashant Kishor has established a significant lead, but the ultimate outcome will hinge on the remaining counting rounds.

All eyes are now on whether the Jan Suraaj candidate can transform his early advantage into a landmark electoral victory in the BJP's traditional stronghold.