03 August,2026 08:03 PM IST | Patna | mid-day online correspondent
Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor celebrates after winning the Bankipur Assembly bypoll on Monday. Pic/ PTI
In a major political development in Bihar, Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) founder Prashant Kishor on Monday won the Bankipur Assembly by-election, ending the BJP's uninterrupted hold over the constituency since 1995, reported PTI.
The victory marks the first time in over three decades that the BJP has lost the prestigious urban constituency.
The bypoll was necessitated after BJP national president Nitin Nabin vacated the seat following his election to the Rajya Sabha.
Making his electoral debut, the 49-year-old defeated BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar by a margin of 19,324 votes, securing 64,151 votes.
Political strategist-turned-politician, Kishor had framed the bypoll as a "referendum" on the BJP-led government in Bihar.
The JSP chief's victory came against Neeraj Kumar, a BJP youth wing leader who was fielded after the party's original candidate, Abhishek "Bunty", withdrew from the contest at the last moment, citing family reasons, the news agency reported.
RJD candidate Rekha Gupta finished a distant third with 14,273 votes. Gupta had lost the seat to Nitin Nabin by around 50,000 votes in the 2025 Assembly election.
Addressing supporters after his victory, Kishor described the result as a 'wake-up call' for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urged the BJP to replace Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.
"The victory is a wake-up call for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who must install a new chief minister in place of Samrat Choudhary," Kishor said, PTI reported.
He added that if the BJP wanted a chief minister from the Kushwaha community, it should choose "a decent person."
Kishor also criticised Bihar's development trajectory, saying the state should not be treated merely as "a factory that produces cheap labour."
"I do not promise that my becoming the MLA will make Bankipur on par with Bengaluru. But when Gujarat is looking forward to having a bullet train, the people of Bihar certainly have a right to expect something better than passenger trains," he said.
Accepting the defeat, Bihar BJP president Sanjay Saraogi said the party respected the people's mandate.
"We bow before the will of the people. We shall draw lessons from the debacle, unlike our opponents who tend to blame every electoral loss on EVMs and the Election Commission," he said in a statement.
The BJP's mood shifted dramatically as counting progressed. Party workers, who had earlier assembled at a sweets shop to collect around 200 kg of laddoos in anticipation of victory, were left disappointed as Kishor steadily extended his lead through successive counting rounds.
Jubilation erupted at the Jan Suraaj Party headquarters, replacing the disappointment that followed the party's failure to win any seats in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.
State party president Manoj Bharti described the verdict as the beginning of "a golden age" for the fledgling outfit.
"This is the beginning of a golden age for our party. The verdict is a message to parties and leaders who arrogantly think of constituencies as fiefdoms," he said.
Among those present at the counting centre was Kishor's wife, Dr Jahnavi Das, who generally stays away from politics. Congratulating her husband, she said, "This victory belongs to the people of Bihar."
Kishor's victory drew praise from leaders outside his party as well.
Janshakti Janata Dal president Tej Pratap Yadav and CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya described the result as a significant setback for the BJP.
RJD spokesperson Chitaranjan Gagan, whose party has often accused Kishor of being the BJP's "B team", said the defeat of the BJP in its traditional stronghold was more significant than who emerged victorious.
"For us, the defeat of the BJP in its stronghold is of greater importance than who won," Gagan said, reported PTI.
Veteran socialist leader Shivanand Tiwary said the verdict reflected growing dissatisfaction with the BJP in Bihar, while also crediting Kishor's organisational skills and campaign strategy.
Polling for the Bankipur by-election was held on July 30 after days of intense campaigning by both the BJP and Jan Suraaj Party.
The campaign was marked by repeated allegations of electoral malpractices from both sides, with each approaching the Election Commission over the issue.
The seat fell vacant after Nitin Nabin, who had won Bankipur for a fifth consecutive term in the 2025 Assembly election, resigned following his election to the Rajya Sabha.
(With PTI inputs)
