Prashant Kishor leads Bankipur by-poll as Bihar leaders trade claims

Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor described the Bankipur bypoll result as a message to the BJP’s central leadership, saying Bihar wants better leadership, education and jobs. He also claimed that Jan Suraaj had brought down a BJP stronghold in just 30 days. Here’s what he said after the victory.

Patna: Breaking the BJP`s three-decade winning streak in the Bankipur assembly constituency, Jan Suraaj founder and party candidate Prashant Kishor on Monday emerged victorious by defeating BJP candidate by a margin of 19,324 votes in the by-poll held to the seat.While Kishor polled 64,151 votes, his nearest rival BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha, secured 44,827 votes. RJD’s Rekha Gupta got merely 14,273 votes. Kishor was ahead of the BJP candidate throughout the counting.Kishor`s victory is also seen as a setback for BJP national president Nitin Nabin, as the latter represented the seat five times. On the other hand, the by-poll was the first electoral contest after the BJP installed its own chief minister in the state as Samrat Choudhary replaced JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar as CM. Bihar: After the 24th round of counting in the Bankipur Assembly by-election, Jan Suraaj Party candidate Prashant Kishor has further extended his lead to 13,868 votes. He has secured 48,434 votes, while BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar has polled 34,566 votes. RJD candidate Rekha… pic.twitter.com/OXKNzr6FHN— IANS (@ians_india) August 3, 2026 Unlike in the last assembly election when Kishor stayed away from contesting the poll himself, he decided to contest the Bankipur by-poll, surcharging the entire atmosphere within his party. Pitteed against BJP`s lightweight candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha, the electorate found Kishor a better candidate, and hence rallied behind him, commented a political analyst. In the last assembly election, JSP contested 238 of the state`s 243 seats but it could not open the account. Kishor called the by-election a referendum on chief minister Samrat Choudhary and slammed the BJP’s “arrogance” for dubbing Bankipur its “stronghold”, an oft-repeated allegation that apparently impacted the electorate.Also Watch:Former professor of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Pushpendra Kumar Singh claimed that there was a feeling among a large section of the electorate that BJP should taste defeat this time, as they were annoyed over BJP`s claim that Bankipur was their impregnable bastion. He said that the Gen Z demonstrations at Jantar Mantar had also impact on the Bankipur contest as the controversial Bhojpur police encounter, claiming life of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari not only rattled upper castes and opponents of BJP but also the party`s supporters and other social groups.Cabinet Expansion Chaos In Karnataka: Protests Erupt, Siddaramaiah’s Absence Raises Eyebrows | VIDEOEqually significant, Kishor was also able to make inroads into the vote banks of both BJP and RJD. While only the upper caste Kayastha community fully supported BJP candidate, sections of other upper caste and OBC voter groups favoured Kishor in the fray. Similarly, sections of the RJD's Muslim-Yadav support base appeared to shift toward Kishor. Some Muslim voters moved away from the RJD in favor of him, believing he stood a stronger chance of defeating the BJP.During his campaign, Kishor raised core issues such as education and jobs and civil matters, instead of harping on traditional issues like caste and religion, thus establishing a better connect with voters, observed another political analyst Indrajit Singh.

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Monday congratulated Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on his victory in the Bankipur Assembly by-election, saying he respected the mandate delivered by the people.In a post on social media, Choudhary described the election as part of the "great festival of democracy" and acknowledged the verdict in favour of the Jan Suraaj chief."In the grand festival of democracy, the people have chosen Jan Suraaj in the Bankipur Assembly by-election. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Shri Prashant Kishor ji on his victory, while respecting the people's decision."The message stood out as a rare display of political courtesy amid Bihar's intensely competitive political landscape.Prashant Kishor Registers Key Bypoll VictoryPrashant Kishor, founder of the Jan Suraaj Party and a political strategist-turned-politician, secured victory in the Bankipur Assembly by-election, defeating BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha in the Patna constituency.The bypoll win is being viewed as a significant milestone for the newly formed Jan Suraaj Party, which has sought to position itself as an alternative to the state's established political formations.'Bihar Deserves A Better Chief Minister': KishorReacting to his victory, Kishor said the bypoll result was more than just the election of an MLA and should be seen as a message to the BJP's central leadership."This election is not just about choosing an MLA. It is about sending a message to the BJP's top leadership that Bihar deserves a capable Chief Minister who can provide better education and employment opportunities. The people have delivered that message," he said.Bankipur Bypoll Result: Prashant Kishor Surges Ahead By 6,419 Votes In Early Counting; BJP Says It's Too Early to Call The Result | Video Kishor, however, acknowledged that the NDA would continue to remain in power in Bihar because of its comfortable majority in the Assembly.Result Carries Political SignificanceWhile the by-election does not alter the balance of power in the Bihar Assembly, it is expected to have political implications ahead of future electoral contests in the state.Choudhary's public congratulations and Kishor's sharp political message have added another dimension to the Bankipur verdict, which is likely to be closely watched by both the ruling NDA and the Opposition in the coming months.

Jan Suraaj Party chief Prashant Kishor secured a major political victory on Monday after defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate in Bihar's Bankipur Assembly by-election, ending the saffron party's three-decade dominance in the constituency.भाजपा अपने राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष की सीट ही हार गई। बांकीपुर से प्रशांत किशोर जी बड़े मार्जिन से जीत गए। उनको बहुत-बहुत बधाई।भाजपा की ज़मीन पूरी तरह से खिसक चुकी है। चंदा चोरी, पेपर लीक, E20... मोदी सरकार के प्रति लोगों में गहरा असंतोष है। अहंकार टूटता जा रहा है। देश की जनता ने… https://t.co/vgRNC52xVV— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 3, 2026 Kishor defeated BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar by a margin of 19,246 votes, delivering a significant setback to the party in a seat it had retained continuously since 1995. The constituency was represented by BJP leader Nitin Nabin for nearly two decades before the by-election.Soon after the result, former Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal congratulated Kishor and used the opportunity to criticise the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre.In a post on X, Kejriwal wrote, "The BJP has lost even the seat of its national president. Prashant Kishor ji has won from Bankipur with a huge margin. Heartiest congratulations to him."He further alleged that growing public dissatisfaction over issues such as paper leaks and other concerns had weakened the BJP's standing among voters.'I Congratulate Winning Candidate In Advance': Bihar BJP Chief Sanjay Saraogi As Prashant Kishor Extends Lead In Bankipur BypollThe Bankipur result is particularly significant because Kishor had framed the contest as more than just an election for a legislative seat. During the campaign and throughout the counting process, he repeatedly maintained that the by-election was a referendum on Bihar's future leadership."This is the victory of the people of Bankipur," Kishor had said. He also argued that the people of Bihar wanted "a good chief minister" who could improve education, generate employment opportunities and curb migration from the state.Kishor had also emphasised that his objective was not merely to win an election but to ensure the state's development, saying that Bihar needed "good leadership and real development" irrespective of which party was in power.

Patna, August 3, 2026: Bihar BJP President Sanjay Saraogi on Monday congratulated Jan Suraaj Party candidate Prashant Kishor as he moved closer to victory in the prestigious Bankipur Assembly by-election.The BJP leader also said the party would review the reasons behind its performance in the seat."We have consistently worked for the development of Bankipur, and it will remain our priority in the future. The people of Bankipur are our own. We will conduct a detailed review to understand why we received fewer votes. I also congratulate the winning candidate in advance," Saraogi said.बांकीपुर उपचुनाव के जनादेश को भारतीय जनता पार्टी सिर झुकाकर स्वीकार करती है और जनता के निर्णय का सम्मान करती है। लोकतांत्रिक प्रक्रिया में जनता का फैसला सर्वोपरि होता है। वोट क्यों नहीं मिले इसकी गंभीरता से समीक्षा करेंगे। कमियों को समझकर उन्हें दूर करने के लिए पूरी मुस्तैदी से…— Sanjay Saraogi (@sanjay_saraogi) August 3, 2026Kishor Extends LeadJan Suraaj Party candidate Prashant Kishor is leading by 18,964 votes over BJP's Neeraj Kumar in the Bankipur Assembly by-election after 29 of the 31 rounds of counting.The by-election was necessitated after BJP leader Nitin Nabin vacated the seat following his election to the Rajya Sabha. In the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, Nabin won Bankipur by a margin of more than 50,000 votes.With Kishor on the verge of a major political upset, his supporters are in a celebratory mood.Hundreds of Jan Suraaj workers gathered outside counting centres and party offices in Patna, dancing to the beats of dhol, smearing green gulal and raising slogans hailing a "new dawn of alternative politics in Bihar."BJP Stronghold Faces ChallengeThe Bankipur Assembly seat (formerly Patna West) has been a BJP stronghold. It was earlier represented by BJP leader Navin Kishore Prasad Sinha. Later, his son Nitin Nabin represented the constituency for five consecutive terms.After years of work as a leading political strategist, Prashant Kishor launched the Jan Suraaj Party to create an alternative political movement built around grassroots issues, education and employment.The party failed to win any seat in its Assembly election debut last year.Also Watch: Bankipur Bypoll: Prashant Kishor Says Victory Sends Message To BJP For 'Better Leadership' In BiharPolitical SignificanceThis is the first by-election since BJP leader Samrat Choudhary assumed office as Chief Minister, taking over the leadership of the coalition government from senior JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar, who is now a member of the Rajya Sabha.(Disclaimer: Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

Patna: Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Monday lashed out at Bihar chief minister Samrat Choudhary, saying that his expected victory in the Bankipur Assembly by-election sends a strong message to the BJP that Bihar needs better leadership.Speaking to reporters after trends showed him comfortably ahead of his nearest rival, BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha, Kishor said that although the NDA would continue to remain in power because of its overwhelming majority in the Assembly, the Bankipur result carries an important political message for the BJP."This election is not just about choosing an MLA. It is about sending a message to the BJP's top leadership that Bihar deserves a capable Chief Minister who can provide better education and employment opportunities. The people have delivered that message," he said.VIDEO | Bankipur Bypoll: As he is leading in vote counting, Jan Suraaj candidate Prashant Kishor (@PrashantKishor) says, "This is not an election to make an MLA, this is to give the message to the top leadership of the BJP that a good person should be made CM in Bihar, so that… pic.twitter.com/iQ48iN8pMc— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 3, 2026 Kishor also thanked voters for their support and promised to work toward earning the confidence of those who did not vote for him."I thank everyone who voted for me. I will also try to win the trust of those who did not support me. What matters most is that Bihar gets good leadership. Migration from the state must stop," he added. He had won the Patna West Assembly seat in the 2006 by-election held after the death of his father, Nabin Kishore Prasad Sinha.Rupee Gains For 6th Straight Session, Rises 12 Paise To 95.31 Against US DollarFollowing the 2008 delimitation, Nitin shifted to the Bankipur seat and successfully maintained an unbroken winning streak across five consecutive assembly elections, including 2010, 2015, 2020, and 2025.The by-election to Bankipur was necessitated after Nitin vacated the seat upon being elected to the Rajya Sabha following his appointment as the BJP's national president.