Bankipur bypoll: Prashant Kishor and Neeraj Kumar Sinha file nominations

Patna: BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha and Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor filed their nomination papers for the Bankipur by-poll on Monday.The by-poll was necessitated after Nitin Nabin vacated the seat following his election to the Rajya Sabha after his elevation to the post of BJP national president.Patna, Bihar: On the Bankipore bypoll, BJP State President Sanjay Saraogi says, "Today, NDA candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha will file his nomination papers. The people of Bankipore are very enthusiastic, and I believe a large number of them will participate in the nomination… pic.twitter.com/I57M9Q08Qa— IANS (@ians_india) July 13, 2026 BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha filed his nomination in the presence of Bihar chief minister Samrat Choudhary, state BJP President Sanjay Saraogi, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad and senior leaders from all NDA constituents. Kishor, on the other hand, was accompanied by his wife, Jahnavi Das, a medical practitioner from Assam when he filed his nomination. Before filing his nomination, he offered prayers at Baba Hariharnath Temple in Sonepur. Votes for the by-poll will be cast on July 30. The result will be declared on August 3.BJP Replaces Bankipur By-Poll Candidate, Fields Neeraj Kumar SinhaMeanwhile, RJD chief Lalu Prasad`s elder son, Tej Pratap Yadav, faced anxious moments when his fledgling political party, Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) ’s nominee from Bankipur by-poll, Veena Manavi, was immediately arrested after she filed her nomination for the seat, even as the court granted her bail later.However, Manvi claimed that she did not know the case for which she had been arrested. Monday was the last date for filing nominations for the by-election.However, a local court granted her bail. She was arrested in connection with a 17-year-old fraud case. A complaint was filed against her in the Civil Court in 2009. Based on the court complaint, an arrest warrant was issued against her on February 26, 2026. In 2016, a case of forgery and cheating was registered against her at Kankarbagh Police Station.Also Watch:Reacting sharply to her party`s candidate, Tej Pratap alleged that his party`s candidate had been framed under a conspiracy hatched by the government.“Manvi is a good-natured woman. I am currently in Delhi and am leaving for Bihar. Why was the arrest warrant issued on Monday when she was filing her nomination the same day? Our candidate Veena Manvi was winning; that is why she has been falsely implicated in a fake case. Both BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha and Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor, who are also in the fray, are losing," he claimed.

Prashant Kishor and Neeraj Kumar Sinha filed nomination papers for the Bankipur Assembly bypoll. Kishor, making his electoral debut, was accompanied by his wife Jahnavi Das. Sinha, the BJP candidate, received blessings and support from party leaders. The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha leader was fielded after another candidate withdrew. Both candidates participated in roadshows before submitting their nomination documents.

BJP's Abhishek Kumar Sinha withdrew from the Bankipur bypoll citing family reasons. The party then fielded Neeraj Kumar Sinha as its new candidate for the contest. Opposition parties claimed the BJP was nervous about a potential defeat in the upcoming election. Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor is campaigning against the ruling party. Polling for the Bankipur bypoll is scheduled for July 30.

Abhishek Kumar Sinha withdrew from the Bankipur bypoll citing family reasons, prompting the BJP to field Neeraj Kumar Sinha as its new candidate.

In a surprising turn of events, a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate has stepped down from the Bankipur bypoll, citing family reasons. The party has swiftly chosen Neeraj Kumar Sinha as the new candidate. This change paves the way for Prashant Kishor's highly anticipated first appearance in the electoral arena, as he prepares to contest against the BJP's stronghold in this area.