Prashant Kishor Takes Early Lead in Bankipur By-Election
Prashant Kishor, founder of the Jan Suraj Party, has made a strong debut in the Bankipur by-election, leading BJP's Neeraj Kumar by over 6,000 votes. This election is Kishor's first since launching his party and is crucial in challenging the BJP's long-standing dominance in the region. With a voter turnout significantly lower than previous elections, the outcome could reshape Bihar's political landscape. Stay tuned for updates on this closely watched contest.
| Aug 3, 2026, 13:22 IST
Prashant Kishor's Strong Start in Bihar By-Election
On Monday, August 3, Prashant Kishor, the founder of the Jan Suraj Party, made a remarkable entry into the electoral arena by securing an early lead against BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar in the Bankipur assembly by-election. After the tenth round of vote counting, Kishor was ahead by 6,011 votes, having received 20,059 votes compared to Kumar's 14,048. RJD candidate Rekha Kumari is currently in third place with 3,983 votes.
This by-election marks Kishor's first direct electoral contest since launching his party, making it one of the most closely watched races in Bihar. As the counting progresses, all eyes are on whether Kishor, contesting for the first time, can break the BJP's long-standing dominance in this constituency. A total of 26 candidates are in the fray, and the voter turnout for the by-election held on July 30 was 34.30%, which is over seven percentage points lower than the 41.45% recorded in the previous assembly elections.
The necessity for this election arose after BJP National President Nitin Nabin resigned from the assembly seat following his election to the Rajya Sabha in April. Nabin had won the Bankipur seat for the fifth consecutive time in November 2025, defeating his nearest rival, RJD's Rekha Gupta, by more than 50,000 votes. The RJD has once again fielded Gupta for this by-election.
This contest is particularly significant as Prashant Kishor, a seasoned electoral strategist who founded the Jan Suraj Party, is running for office for the first time. The BJP, which has never lost this seat since 1995 (when it was known as Patna West), has fielded its youth wing leader Neeraj Kumar Sinha to defend this stronghold.
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